Medical Issues Associated with Winter Survival Training.

Area of Science:

• Space Medicine
• Aerospace Physiology
• Survival Training

Background:

• Manned spaceflight carries the risk of emergency landings in diverse Earth environments.
• Pre-mission survival training is essential for astronaut preparedness.
• Winter survival training in challenging terrains addresses specific risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze medical issues and health status during winter survival training for spaceflight crews.
• To assess the effectiveness of training in preparing astronauts for off-nominal landings.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of medical protocols and training reports from 50 International Space Station crews (2011-2019).
• Inclusion of astronauts, participants, and instructors from various space agencies.
• Monitoring of physiological parameters and medical events during training.

Main Results:

• Crew health status remained nominal with generally comfortable or cold (not extreme) temperatures.
• Blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and heart rate were within normal limits.
• Minor bodyweight loss (average 2.1 kg) and 32 medical/environmental events requiring intervention were recorded, with two training cancellations.

Conclusions:

• Winter survival training effectively prepares spaceflight crews for emergency landings in adverse conditions.
• The training simulates real-world contingency scenarios, providing valuable medical insights.
• Medical issues encountered were generally manageable, highlighting the training's success.