393143 Space Travel Experience of a Chemical Engineer

Monday, November 17, 2014: 1:40 PM
International A (Marriott Marquis Atlanta)
Dr. Robert Satcher, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Satcher’s travel mission experience to the International Space Station to resupply, perform maintenance and conduct tests on how human body reacts in space will be presented. We have learned a lot about what it takes to survive in space. We learned how to start IVs and to make sure that when you push the needle in, you're not also pushing yourself away. Everyday tasks such as personal hygiene were complicated, especially when you had a room full of guys. This included using waterless shampoo and strapping oneself to the toilet, not easy or comfortable adjustments. It took me three days just to get used to sleeping because you're just floating around, even if you're still in the bag. 

During the mission, Satcher conducted three space walks to check the station's outside equipment, while employing his finely tuned surgical skills to navigate a robotic arm scanning for shuttle damage. He likened the tedious nature of this task to his experience in the operating room. The fine art of actually getting out of the space suit was an incredibly tricky undertaking which is more difficult than birthing a baby calf. http://www2.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/2010/05/robert-satcher-md-phd-talks-about-his-nasa-mission.html


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