The Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory: a leader in the development of life support

The progress in the development of life support for the crewman parallels the changing flight envelope of the airplane and spacecraft. A constant in this history is man. In spite of elaborate attempts to refine the selection of the crew, the basic lists of requirements has not changed. Only the urgency and the need for providing the entire list of requirements have been seen. Generally, progress in the flight envelope has demanded more reliable and often more complex provisions to support the crew. The debate as to how this should be done has often centered on the argument about having man wear or carry the life support elements versus integration of these provisions into the vehicle. This debate initiated the concept of risks/benefits, a debate that has now reached all aspects of man's endeavors, including his medical care. This paper will discuss the major milestones of providing life support, some of the key contributors (a role that General Armstrong played in a great way), and how this has provided the base for the next steps in aviation and space operations.