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Published on: October 27, 2020
Engineering Human Stasis for Long-Duration Spaceflight
Claire A Nordeen1, Sandra L Martin2
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington.
Abstract:
Suspended animation for deep-space travelers is moving out of the realm of science fiction. Two approaches are considered: the first elaborates the current medical practice of therapeutic hypothermia; the second invokes the cascade of metabolic processes naturally employed by hibernators. We explore the basis and evidence behind each approach and argue that mimicry of natural hibernation will be critical to overcome the innate limitations of human physiology for long-duration space travel.
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