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Space Physiology
J.C. Buckey, Jr.
New York: Oxford Univ. Press, Inc.,
2006, 283 pp., illus., index, $59.95
This book is designed to provide scientists, health care providers (e.g.,
flight surgeons), and engineers a practical handbook and reference to
enhance effective decision support for management of health care and
physiological maintenance of future astronauts, particularly for
anticipation of extended interplanetary space travel. The overall focus of
the book is on describing practical problems and identifying their
solutions. The book consists of 12 chapters that cover the primary (known)
clinical and physiological challenges associated with extended spaceflight.
Specifically, the chapters address psychosocial support, radiation hazards,
bone loss, muscle atrophy, cardiovascular changes, nutrition, extravehicular
activity (physical work requirements in space), neurovestibular adaptations,
motion sickness, gender differences, preflight preparation/postflight
rehabilitation, and medical planning. Each chapter is strategically and
logically laid out, beginning with an introduction that provides a
systematic, yet brief review of relevant underlying physiology associated
with each subject matter, followed by a summary of the physiological effects
of spaceflight based on data and anecdotal observations and experiences
obtained from actual space missions. Each chapter proceeds with
recommendations for countermeasures based on the current knowledge of
clinical treatments, followed by approaches to monitoring spaceflight and
countermeasure effects. Finally, each chapter discussion concludes with a
section on recommendations based on current knowledge, and an extensive and
relevant reference list.
In agreement with the author’s acknowledgements expressed in the Preface, I
found that specific recommendations may have implied that more is known
about a particular topic than is actually the case, or represented one
perspective on a controversial issue where the evidence may not be
completely clear. Nevertheless, the approach used by the author required
that conclusions be drawn from the currently available data which served the
important purpose of challenging the reader to critically evaluate and
interpret the supporting evidence.
In his preface, the author states that “The aim of this book is to help
surmount the physiological and medical problems so that a mission to Mars
could succeed.” The emphasis on extended space missions to Mars can prove to
be a distraction (albeit minor) to the primary purpose of providing a
comprehensive overview of the important role that gravity plays in the
normal function and health of human physiology.
Although aimed at providing scientists, flight surgeons, and engineers with
a guide for supporting astronauts, there are several unique features of this
book that could make it an excellent reference for use as a classroom
textbook for professors and students interested in the study of space
physiology. The book is short and concise, yet very informative. The author
writes and explains the current issues with exceptional clarity making this
book an easy read. In each chapter, adequate background is presented that
allows the reader to follow along and understand previous research and the
author’s recommendations. Throughout the book, gaps in our knowledge are
presented that detail the directions for future research which are needed to
maintain safe and effective human space exploration and long-duration
spaceflight. The manner in which the content of the book is laid out would
provide a student with an excellent training tool for logical thinking and
problem solving. The book effectively describes many physical and chemical
characteristics unique to the space environment that makes space travel, and
more generally the low gravity environment, uniquely challenging to the
human physiology. These characteristics are not generally found in the
context of studying physiology. An excellent example is the discussion
(Chapter 2) of the psychological stresses (e.g., interpersonal conflict,
anxiety, depression) associated with living in isolation and confinement. In
these regards, I would strongly recommend this book as the textbook for use
in an undergraduate or graduate course on space physiology.
This book fills a void for the need of having a comprehensive reference for
the physiological and medical impacts of human spaceflight. The book covers
virtually all the currently recognized impacts of extended spaceflight on
human health, safety and performance. In addition to his medical training as
a physician, the author is an internationally recognized space physiologist
whose research is funded by the National Space Biomedical Research
Institute. He present significant insight into the daily activities and
responsibilities of astronauts and places all information in the appropriate
context in order to properly understand the health issues and medical
challenges of long duration spaceflight. The author’s personal experience as
a payload specialist astronaut who flew in space as part of NASA’s Neurolab
Space Shuttle mission (STS-90) in April, 1998 adds unique insight and
credibility to this work.
Victor A. Convertino
US Army Institute of Surgical Research, Ft. Sam Houston, TX |
