Crew Recovery and Contingency Planning for a Manned Stratospheric Balloon Flight - the StratEx Program.

The StratEx program used a self-contained space suit and balloon system to loft pilot Alan Eustace to a record-breaking altitude and skydive from 135,897 feet (41,422 m). After releasing from the balloon and a stabilized freefall, the pilot safely landed using a parachute system based on a modified tandem parachute rig. A custom spacesuit provided life support using a similar system to NASA's (National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Washington, DC USA) Extravehicular Mobility Unit. It also provided tracking, communications, and connection to the parachute system. A recovery support team, including at least two medical personnel and two spacesuit technicians, was charged with reaching the pilot within five minutes of touchdown to extract him from the suit and provide treatment for any injuries. The team had to track the flight at all times, be prepared to respond in case of premature release, and to operate in any terrain. Crew recovery operations were planned and tailored to anticipate outcomes during this novel event in a systematic fashion, through scenario and risk analysis, in order to minimize the probability and impact of injury. This analysis, detailed here, helped the team configure recovery assets, refine navigation and tracking systems, develop procedures, and conduct training. An extensive period of testing and practice culminated in three manned flights leading to a successful mission and setting the record for exit altitude, distance of fall with stabilizing device, and vertical speed with a stabilizing device. During this mission, recovery teams reached the landing spot within one minute, extracted the pilot, and confirmed that he was not injured. This strategy is presented as an approach to prehospital planning and care for improved safety during crew recovery in novel, extreme events. Menon AS , Jourdan D , Nusbaum DM , Garbino A , Buckland DM , Norton S , Clark JB , Antonsen EL . Crew recovery and contingency planning for a manned stratospheric balloon flight - the StratEx program. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2016;31(5):524-531.

Thermoregulatory models of space shuttle and space station activities.

BACKGROUND: Thermoregulation is critical for survival in space, especially during contingencies demanding of human cognitive and physical performance. A review of the negative feedback human thermoregulatory system is provided. The Advanced Crew Escape Suit is worn by astronauts during ascent and descent on the Space Shuttle to provide active cooling for nominal and contingency operations and protection from loss of cabin pressure mishaps. Failure of a thermal system control element during a recent Shuttle flight resulted in a single point failure that could have elevated cabin temperature, possibly resulting in cognitive deficits of the pilot during the reentry and landing phases. METHODS: The efficacy of the existing cooling equipment and procedures for maintaining crew thermal comfort in the event of such a failure was assessed. The Wissler and 41-node thermoregulatory models were used to conduct a parametric study of Shuttle cabin temperatures and resulting thermal effects on crew. RESULTS: Under high metabolic loads, crewmember core temperatures and heat storage are shown to increase beyond allowable limits using this analysis. Resulting levels of thermal stress may exceed standardized limits, after which cognitive performance and manual tracking ability are diminished. DISCUSSION: The operational procedure for entry and landing during this failure scenario may result in significant thermal compromise to crewmembers, including cognitive and manual performance deficits. Revision of the flight rule governing crew actions during compromise of cabin thermal control has been undertaken to minimize thermal stress on returning Shuttle crewmembers. Modifications to the crew thermal protection system for the Shuttle are suggested.