Space Tourism: Will the ISTM be aboard?
Karl Neumann MD, FAAP
With commercial space travel imminent - probably within the next five years - should the International Society of Travel Medicine shoot for the stars, as the saying goes, and become involved in preparing travelers for space flight, or should we remain earthbound?
This was the gist of our latest query of our members. We received 45 replies, fewer than usual. While most responders looked favorably upon an involvement by travel medicine practitioners in space travel medicine, most of this group did not elaborate on how they thought this should be brought about. But interestingly, a handful of responders were ISTM members who are already involved in various facets of space medicine and could be the intermediaries.
Here are some of the more interesting replies:
> Aerospace Medicine Specialists (Flight Surgeons) could be considered subject matter experts in the areas of flight and space travel. This may be a good opportunity for the Aerospace Medical Association (Asthma) and its constituent organization the Space Medicine Association (SMA) to get together with ISTM in order to establish some cross-pollination. I know that Asthma has been considering the civilian/tourist space flight standards concept for some time now. If I recall correctly one of the first civilian space tourists (Russian Flight), spoke at a previous Asthma convention as the keynote speaker. Dr Russell Rayman, CEO of Asthma, would be an ideal person for senior leadership in ISTM to communicate with.
> Wow! That's fantastic! I definitely think we should climb on board for "space travel medicine." It seems like a world of opportunity just waiting to be tapped and vast knowledge to be acquired. Imagine multidimensional travel medicine. Sounds like an opportunity to learn more about our environment(s), which in turn helps us to evaluate our risks to travelers and how to decrease those risks in all environments.
> I think we should be ready and willing to keep up with space age travel needs. I am sure with our patient complex, they will be able to pay the fare.
> Regarding passengers on sub-orbital flights, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Aviation Medicine has this in hand as the various projects are all in the USA at present. There is a group of Aviation Medical Examiners (I am one) who will be asked to examine and advise the intrepid travelers and certify their fitness. This will probably be to FAA Class Three standards (equivalent to a private pilot's certificate).
> The subject has been studied for several years within the aviation medicine community. I await the NewsShare information with interest.
> Thanks for asking but personally, I prefer just looking up at the moon and stars!
> I have enough trouble trying to stay grounded in the art and science of travel medicine, that I might find myself lost in space with this new initiative. But thank you for your expansive vision for the rest of us.
> Science fiction? Reality? But let us go for it before someone else will. I am a Star Trek fan.
I consider myself an expert on the medical aspects of space travel. Even though I have had absolutely no formal training I know all there is to know from watching Star Trek. I have watched every episode many times. What else is there possibly to know?
While I agree that space medicine is certainly a subset of travel medicine, I would suggest that this population of very unique travelers would be better served by wilderness medicine experts with a background in aerospace issues. I am not advocating that we not become educated in this new field but these are the extreme of the "extreme adventure travelers" and should seek out the best advice on this earth before they leave it.
> I brought up the subject of space travel at a conference here in the UK late last year. I expected a barrage of criticism but in fact people were generally very much in favour of travel health advisors keeping abreast of information in this area. NASA (www.space-travel.com) has already been doing research on health and one of the issues to come out of that was the likelihood of anxiety and/or depression in an individual potentially leading to mental health problems among other team members. This is something which is also becoming more apparent in organised "Team Expeditions" where even the best prepared exercises run into difficulties when an individual finds they "can't cope" in the new environment.
> When your questions were presented to my staff who are usually hesitant to expand our clinical areas, they were unanimously in favor and excited about adding "space travelers" to our mix!
> If they are traveling and have health needs/requirements that we can provide, I say absolutely! Will definitely need some further education regarding the specific risks, health effects, physiologic changes and about numerous other considerations. Sounds like a topic for ISTM 2009.
> Excellent point for further discussion. ISTM should definitely explore this further even if the subject is more theoretical than practical at this point in time. Forward-looking ideas are what keep some organizations in the forefront while others wither on the vine.
Karl is the editor of NewsShare. He writes frequently about travel medicine.
