Dealing with Death in Space: Protocols and Challenges for Astronauts

2023-10-06 07:34:19
There is still a lot unknown about how astronauts deal with death. It is not just a question of what to do with the body. But helping the crew deal with the loss and return to Earth is no less important than dealing with the remains of the person who died. Perhaps the first astronauts had to accept the idea of ​​death during their long journeys into space, as it was a possibility, especially since the whole world was taking its first steps beyond the borders of space. the earth. For example, before the first space flight, “Apollo 11,” arrived on the surface of the moon in 1969, carrying with it Neil Armstrong and other astronauts, US President Richard Nixon was prepared to deliver the news of their deaths there. He began his stand-up speech, which fortunately he did not have to deliver, with the phrase: “It was destined that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace would stay on the moon to rest in peace.” But, what if a death actually occurred on the surface of the moon, on the International Space Station, or during the long missions that NASA is preparing to go to Mars? Is there a specific protocol that must be followed to deal with the body? Some might expect that the body of the deceased would be treated in space just as sailors deal with their human losses by throwing them into the sea, but this is prohibited under international laws and treaties. The United Nations convention states that you cannot throw waste into space, and this includes throwing bodies, because objects floating in space can collide with other spacecraft or even float to alien planets and effectively colonize them with human remains and any bacteria and other organisms that may live on and within the body. Burying bodies on the moon or Mars is internationally prohibited (Getty Images) How many people have died in space? Since man began his exploration of space more than 60 years ago, approximately 20 people have died: 14 astronauts in the NASA space shuttle tragedies in 1986 and 2003, 3 astronauts during the “Soyuz 11” mission in 1971, and 3 astronauts in a launch pad fire. Apollo 1″ in 1967. As is clear, according to the “Astronomy” website, the majority of these deaths occurred either on Earth or in its atmosphere, below the acceptable limits of space, which is called the “Karman line”, which is used to differentiate between the Earth’s atmosphere and outer space and begins at an altitude of about 100 kilometers above sea level. However, of the approximately 550 people who have gone on space trips so far, only three have died there. Since the start of space exploration 60 years ago, approximately 20 people have died (Getty Images) Death near Earth As for the International Space Station, no one has died on board so far, and astronauts usually spend a short period of time on board, only 6 months each time, and undergo… They all undergo extensive medical examination before their spaceflights are approved. It is clear from NASA’s reports that it focuses more on prevention than on what should be done if an astronaut actually dies in space. But if someone died on board the International Space Station, or on a mission in low Earth orbit, the crew could return the body to Earth in a capsule within hours. If death occurred on the surface of the moon, the crew could return to Earth with the body within a few days. NASA has detailed protocols for such events, according to Emanuel Urquieta, professor of space and emergency medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, in an article on the Conversation website. Because of this rapid return, preserving the body is likely not NASA’s main concern, but rather the first priority is ensuring that the remaining crew returns safely to Earth. NASA plans to establish colonies on Mars, but how will deaths be dealt with? (Getty Images) Death on Mars NASA already has plans to send manned missions to Mars, and private companies such as Mars 1 and SpaceX are working on preparing the logistics of establishing human colonies on the surface of this red planet. There may still be a few Manned flights to Mars are decades away, but they seem inevitable, as is the possibility of someone dying in space, whether en route there or on its surface. If an astronaut dies en route to Mars, the crew will not be able to turn around and return during a trip of 300 million miles. Instead, the object will likely return to Earth with the crew at the end of the mission, which will be approximately two years later. The drawback of this plan is that it would not be practical to keep a human body on board a spaceship for the entire length of the trip to Mars. This could endanger the health of the crew. Physically and mentally. Spacecraft are also so expensive that adding a small shrine to any ship would be a multi-million dollar addition. One of the most interesting proposals for dealing with death in space is a “body bag,” an airtight sleeping bag into which a human corpse is compressed and then exposed To freezing temperatures in outer space. The body is then returned to the back of the spacecraft and shaken violently until it breaks down into approximately 50 pounds of flour. In this case, body dust can be suspended outside the vehicle until it reaches its destination. What if the astronaut died after landing on Mars? There is almost no answer for what to do. Is it possible to burn his body to get rid of it, for example? Of course not, because burning bodies is not desirable there, as it requires a lot of energy that the surviving crew needs for other purposes. Burial is also not a good idea as bacteria and other organisms in the body can contaminate the surface of Mars. The crew will likely keep the body in the designated bag until it can be returned to Earth. But all of these scenarios would only apply if someone died in a pressurized environment like a space station or spacecraft. How astronauts deal with death is still unknown (Getty Images) Can the dead body be used as fertilizer? NASA and Mars 1 One’s plans to visit Mars include astronauts growing their own crops on the red planet. Using human bodies after death as fertilizer is one radical idea, but according to ScienceAlert, it doesn’t seem likely that this idea will ever catch on. It has always been taboo to use dead bodies for “useful purposes.” Death is a deeply human issue, but for long-term spaceflight it must also be treated as an expensive and practical matter. There are still many unknowns about how astronauts will be treated. With death, it’s not just a question of what to do with the body, but helping the crew deal with the loss and return to Earth is just as important as dealing with the remains of the dead. Source: The Conversation + Science Alert + websites
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