Space Medicine

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/space-medicine-duke

Introduction

# Course Review: Space Medicine on Coursera Are you intrigued by the challenges of space exploration? Have you ever considered what it takes for humans to survive and thrive outside the Earth’s atmosphere? If so, the **Space Medicine** course on Coursera could be an exciting addition to your learning journey. ### Course Overview **Space Medicine** is an engaging and free online course facilitated by two recent graduates from Duke University. Designed to immerse participants in the field of space medicine, this course takes you through the myriad of medical challenges that come with human space travel. With interactive modules and weekly live discussions, participants not only learn about the history and evolution of this field but also engage with real-world case studies, making the content both educational and relevant. ### Syllabus Breakdown The course covers several key topics, each addressing unique aspects of space medicine: 1. **History of Medicine and Aviation**: This module offers a fascinating look at how space medicine emerged from aerospace medicine. You will explore the historical context that brought together the fields of medicine and aviation, punctuated by case studies that highlight the evolution of the discipline. Understanding these foundations sets the stage for comprehending the complexities of space travel. 2. **Out of Thin Air**: This section dives into the challenges that arise from lower oxygen levels at high altitudes. Participants will learn about the importance of oxygen in human physiology and familiarize themselves with medical symptoms related to hypoxia. This knowledge is crucial for understanding how astronauts manage such risks in space. 3. **The Price of Leaving**: Exploring the dangers associated with pressure changes in space, this module introduces concepts like Decompression Sickness and hyperoxia. It is vital for participants to understand how artificial atmospheres on spacecraft need to be controlled to prevent serious health complications. 4. **Extremes of Acceleration**: Delving into the effects of acceleration, participants will study how experiences like high-speed maneuvers can lead to dangerous conditions for pilots and astronauts. This module underscores the importance of managing G-forces and maintaining blood pressure to prevent loss of consciousness. 5. **Breaking Points**: This unit addresses the physiological impacts of long-term space travel, such as muscle atrophy and bone density loss. It emphasizes the critical need for continuous communication between space doctors and astronauts to mitigate health risks during journeys, especially to distant destinations like Mars. 6. **Martian Medicine**: The final module is particularly speculative and future-oriented. It challenges participants to consider the medical and ethical issues that might arise when establishing human settlements on Mars. Knowledge about adaptive engineering and resource management in such limited environments becomes essential, leaving participants with thought-provoking questions about the future of humanity in space. ### Course Experience The Space Medicine course’s format is both interactive and intellectually stimulating. Regular live discussions foster a vibrant learning community, allowing participants to share ideas and engage in thoughtful dialogue. Given that the course is free and does not culminate in a certificate, it is an accessible opportunity for anyone interested in the intersection of medicine and space exploration. ### Recommended Audience This course is ideal for students, medical professionals, aerospace enthusiasts, or anyone curious about the complexities of human survival in space. Whether you are looking to expand your knowledge for personal enrichment or professional development, Space Medicine offers invaluable insights into an exciting and evolving field. ### Conclusion: Why You Should Enroll The **Space Medicine** course on Coursera offers a unique opportunity to explore the challenges and solutions of space exploration through the lens of medicine. With its engaging content, expert facilitators, and collaborative learning environment, it is a must-take for those curious about the future of humanity in space. So, if you’ve ever wondered, "Do I have what it takes to be an astronaut?", take this first step to find out by enrolling in this course today!

Syllabus

History of Medicine and Aviation

The field of space medicine arose from aerospace medicine in the mid 20th century. Owing the heritages of space and medicine, we will want to look back in history to find how these two disciplines came together. Along the way we will talk about case studies, which punctuate each week of the course, look at the role of flight medicine, before turning to the environment of space. Space is an inhospitable place, but venturing beyond Earth is not hopeless. Already some organisms have overcome problems posed by lack of air, freezing temperatures, and radiation. Space medicine is all about meeting these challenges and preventing problems before they occur in our final frontier.

A commonly understood fact is that breathing is difficult at high elevations because of the thin air. However, the meanings behind “hard to breathe” and “thin air” are often hidden or under-appreciated. Informed by a hot balloon incident from the 1800s, we will ask why oxygen is so important for the human body and appreciate how our hearts, lungs, and blood is essential for sustaining life. Then we will look at what happens when these processes break down including medical signs and symptoms to answer what happened hundreds of years ago. Finally, we will look at countermeasures and ways that humans overcome the threat of hypoxia in aerospace and space travel.

Scuba divers know that the end of the dive can be the most dangerous because bubbles can form causing terrible damage. Decompression Sickness was first understood in French coal miners but plays a crucial role in aerospace applications. The space environment involves moving between pressure gradients which brings these risks front and center. The other concern with different pressure gradients is hyperoxia where too much oxygen can also cause trouble. The artificial atmospheres onboard the International Space Station and in space suits must be tightly controlled to avoid these issues.

Aircraft causalities almost always end with a crash. Crashes are a form of acceleration where a moving plane comes to a rapid stop causing massive trauma for the pilot and passenger. Acceleration from high speed turns, maneuvers, and lift-off can contribute to pilots passing out and losing control of their craft. We fight against these G-Forces with blood pressure in the hopes of avoiding these Losses of Consciousness and Trauma.

Once we leave Earth, we lose so many of the protections that keep us safe. With the strong presence of Earth's gravity, our eyesight begins to fade, our bones start to crumble, and our muscles will atrophy. The atmosphere and magnetosphere shield us from solar radiation and we leave behind most of our social connections on board a spaceship. To survive a journey to Mars, Space Doctors will need to be in constant communication with astronauts and plan the mission knowing these risks. The journey may be perilous but we can engineer solutions to persevere and overcome.

Should astronauts prevent all of the issues needed for a trip to the Red Planet, there will be new health concerns to live on Mars. This week is especially theoretical as we look into engineering and medical designs to survive in an incredibly limited environment. Scarce resources also pose ethical concerns as some equipment may need to be left behind at the start of a mission and a Martian parasite could risk the extinction of the human race. However, like every issue throughout this course, once we've identified an issue, we can overcome it! We leave you, asking, "Do you have what it takes to be an astronaut?"