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In this entry, the history of medical screening standards for the selection and retention of professional astronauts is examined. The evolving views on risk and human factors are discussed in their relationship to changing screening and selection criteria, and current selection standards are discussed.
There are many risks inherent to human spaceflight; safeguards are put into place in an attempt to mitigate the risks of each mission operation. One safeguard that has received significant attention and revision over the years of the US space program is the development and implementation of medical screening standards for the selection and retention of astronauts. Medical screening procedures have been designed with the intent of identifying potential crewmembers at the lowest risk possible for in-flight medical conditions that might compromise the successful completion of a spaceflight operation and the objectives within or which might affect the safety of the other...
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References
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Johnston, S.L., Blue, R.S. (2018). Astronaut Selection – Medical Standards. In: Young, L., Sutton, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Bioastronautics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10152-1_48-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10152-1_48-1
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Astronaut Selection – Medical Standards- Published:
- 27 November 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10152-1_48-2
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Astronaut Selection – Medical Standards- Published:
- 19 April 2018
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10152-1_48-1