Operational Considerations for Crew Fatality on the International Space Station.

Area of Science:

• Space Medicine
• Aerospace Operations
• Forensic Science

Background:

• Human spaceflight has not experienced an on-orbit fatality with other crew members surviving.
• Previous plans for managing fatalities lacked detailed crew and ground controller actions.
• The NASA Johnson Space Center developed a comprehensive plan for a single on-orbit fatality on the International Space Station (ISS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail operational considerations for a crew fatality during ISS spaceflight.
• To integrate Mission Control Center (MCC) responses for flight control teams and Flight Surgeons.
• To address forensic and timeline constraints, behavioral health, and disposition of remains.

Main Methods:

• Development of a comprehensive plan by NASA's Contingency Medical Operations Group.
• Integration of MCC response protocols for flight control and medical teams.
• Consideration of forensic documentation, sample collection, human remains containment, and disposition.

Main Results:

• A detailed operational plan for managing a single on-orbit crew fatality on the ISS.
• Inclusion of specific actions for crew and ground controllers.
• Consideration of behavioral health factors and disposition of remains.

Conclusions:

• The developed plan provides a framework for handling on-orbit fatalities with dignity, honor, and respect.
• Future spaceflight platforms, including planetary and surface operations, may benefit from these procedural validations.
• The plan emphasizes the importance of preparedness for rare but critical spaceflight contingencies.