Medical Support and Outcomes Of a Manned Stratospheric Balloon and Free-Fall Parachute Flight Test Program

Date

2015-07-12

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Publisher

45th International Conference on Environmental Systems

Abstract

On October 24, 2014, the StratEx team successfully flew a manned balloon to an altitude of 41,422 m / 135,890 feet, from which the pilot was able to release and free fall safely to Earth. This accomplishment was the culmination of a multi-year program of design and testing of all the subsystems, and included thermal and vacuum chambers, airplane testing and multiple balloon flights. Exposure to such extreme environments carries with it significant risks. This paper focuses on the peculiar medical risks faced in such an endeavor, and the different approaches used to mitigate them, as well as describing the available treatment modalities were a mishap to occur.

Description

Bellevue, Washington
Maria-Vittoria “Giugi” Carminati, JD, LLM, Carminati Law PLLC, USA
Jonathan B. Clark, MD, MPH, Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, USA
Alejandro Garbino, MD, PhD, ADE Aerospace LLC, USA
Derek M. Nusbaum, MD, PhD, ADE Aerospace LLC, USA
Erik A. Antonsen, MD, PhD, ADE Aerospace LLC, USA
Daniel Buckland, MD, PhD, ADE Aerospace LLC, USA
The 45th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Bellevue, Washington, USA on 12 July 2015 through 16 July 2015.

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