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Hypoxia, Hypercarbia, and Atmospheric Control

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Principles of Clinical Medicine for Space Flight

This chapter reviews atmospheric standards with particular attention to pathophysiology and operational issues associated with pressure, temperature, humidity, and trace contaminants. Next follows a discussion of the physiologically relevant atmospheric gases oxygen and carbon dioxide along with their associated clinical conditions (e.g., hypoxia and hypercarbia). The chapter concludes with a review of the environmental control systems found on board past and present spacecraft.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mauri Ora Associates, Auckland, New Zealand

    Kira Bacal M.D.,Ph.D.

  2. Impact Instrumentation, West Caldwell, NJ, USA

    George Beck BA

  3. NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Astronaut and Physician Michael R. Barratt M.D.,M.S.

Authors
  1. Kira Bacal M.D.,Ph.D.
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  2. George Beck BA
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  3. Astronaut and Physician Michael R. Barratt M.D.,M.S.
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Michael R. Barratt M.D.,M.S.  & Sam L. Pool M.D.  & 

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Bacal, K., Beck, G., Barratt, M.R. (2008). Hypoxia, Hypercarbia, and Atmospheric Control. In: Barratt, M.R., Pool, S.L. (eds) Principles of Clinical Medicine for Space Flight. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-68164-1_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-68164-1_22

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-98842-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-68164-1

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