NASA Has Detailed Procedure For Troubled Astronauts In Orbit | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-04.29.24

Airborne-Unlimited-04.23.24

Airborne-Unlimited-04.24.24 Airborne-FltTraining-04.25.24

Airborne-Unlimited-04.26.24

Tue, Feb 27, 2007

NASA Has Detailed Procedure For Troubled Astronauts In Orbit

Nowak Incident Sheds Light On 2001 Checklist

Astronaut Lisa Nowak's recent apparent breakdown has prompted some to wonder what would happen if a similar type of behavioral problem occurred in space. As Aero-News reported, Nowak was arrested this month on charges she planned to kidnap the woman she regarded as a threat to a relationship.

NASA does, indeed, have written procedures for situations involving a psychotic astronaut in space.

According to the Associated Press, should an astronaut exhibit behaviors that threaten themselves or someone else, crew members should "bind the wrists and ankles with duct tape, tie him down with a bungee cord and inject tranquilizers if necessary." The instructions go on to say, "Talk with the patient while you are restraining him. Explain what you are doing, and that you are using a restraint to ensure that he is safe."

NASA spokesman James Hartsfield told the AP a flight surgeon on the ground, NASA and the commander in space would decide whether to abort the flight. The group would also decide whether to send the astronaut home, if the incident occurred on the International Space Station.

Dr. Patricia Santy, a former NASA psychiatrist and author of the book "Choosing the Right Stuff," said there are no good studies of astronauts' stress levels or how they adapt psychologically to space.

"What astronaut is going to tell you they're feeling homicidal?" she asked. "They're very conscious that if they say the wrong thing they could get grounded."

The procedural checklist for the space station was drawn up in 2001, and also includes procedures for dealing with medical situations. New procedures have been drawn up for the space shuttle but have not been released yet, according to Hartsfield, pending reviews by NASA attorneys.

FMI: www.nasa.gov

Advertisement

More News

Unfortunate... ANN/SportPlane Resource Guide Adds To Cautionary Advisories

The Industry Continues to be Rocked By Some Questionable Operations Recent investigations and a great deal of data has resulted in ANN’s SportPlane Resource Guide’s rep>[...]

ANN FAQ: Turn On Post Notifications

Make Sure You NEVER Miss A New Story From Aero-News Network Do you ever feel like you never see posts from a certain person or page on Facebook or Instagram? Here’s how you c>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (04.29.24): Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI)

Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI) An airport lighting facility providing vertical visual approach slope guidance to aircraft during approach to landing by radiating a directio>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (04.28.24): Airport Marking Aids

Airport Marking Aids Markings used on runway and taxiway surfaces to identify a specific runway, a runway threshold, a centerline, a hold line, etc. A runway should be marked in ac>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.28.24)

Aero Linx: The Skyhawk Association The Skyhawk Association is a non-profit organization founded by former Skyhawk Pilots which is open to anyone with an affinity for the A-4 Skyhaw>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC