Medicine at the Final Frontier
| Module title | Medicine at the Final Frontier |
|---|---|
| Module code | HPDM075 |
| Academic year | 2021/2 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Malcolm Hilton (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 8 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 12 |
|---|
Module description
In this module you will learn the core environmental and physical challenges associated with human spaceflight, including acceleration forces, radiation, atmospheric control, pressure excursions, and lack of standard circadian cues. You will also learn the physiological changes associated with human adaptation to weightlessness and how these influence the clinical practice of space medicine.
Module aims - intentions of the module
In this module you will understand the effects of environmental factors and weightlessness on human health and performance during and after spaceflight, and familiarize with the clinical implications associated with these factors. You will focus on the current practice of space medicine and delivery of care on space platforms as well as countermeasures administered against deleterious effects of spaceflight. Information will stem from operational experience from spaceflight medical support as well as human life science investigational results. A special emphasis will be given to space medical literature and the limitations and interpretations of investigations performed during or in support of spaceflight. You will also learn the geopolitical influences on human spaceflight and how these affect the practice of space medicine.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Understanding the fundamental issues associated with human spaceflight
- 2. Acquire awareness of knowledge gaps and ongoing critical research
- 3. Critically appraise published research and operational practices
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Understand the incidence, presentation, and approach to typical medical problems in space medicine
- 5. Identify sources of space medical information
- 6. Understand ground analogues for spaceflight and their relative contributions
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Apply generic principles of extreme medicine to human spaceflight and leverage intersections
- 8. Be able to advise and inform prospective spaceflight participants, for agency level and commercial spaceflight
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, an example of an overall structure is as follows:
Physical Forces Associated with Spaceflight
Acceleration loads
Fractional and artificial gravity
Spacecraft orbital mechanic and flight dynamics
Radiation
Spacecraft Environments
Pressure and environmental control
Atmospheric constituent and metabolic gases
Spacecraft toxicology
Acoustics
Physiologic Adaptation to Weightlessness I: Acute System Response
Anthropometry
Neurovestibular
Fluid shift and volume regulation
Cardiovascular response
Physiologic Adaptation to Weightlessness II: Long Term System Response
Musculoskeletal deconditioning
Cardiovascular and aerobic performance
Overview of physical countermeasures
Neurosensori and behavioural adaptation
Metabolism
Immune System
Clinical Problems Associated with Spaceflight
Medical standards
Inflight medical events
Health effects of radiation
Decompression disorders
Neuro-ophthalmic disorders
Spaceflight medical systems
Post flight Medical Issues and Misc Topics
Orthostatic Intolerance
Neurosensori deficits
Physical deconditioning and re-adaptation to gravity
Spaceflight Analogs
Knowledge gaps and research summary
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 120 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 30 | Residential course: Lectures, seminars, master-classes, practical exercises and group work in specialist areas, and contemporary debates |
| Guided Independent Study | 80 | Reading and preparation for scheduled sessions and coursework. Web-based learning; resource gathering and in-depth reading during the period of module delivery. |
| Guided Independent Study | 40 | Preparation and writing of assignments. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal feedback during residential course | n/a | 1-8 | Oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written assignment | 100 | 2000 words | 1-8 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written assignment | 2000 words | 1-8 | August to September |
Re-assessment notes
Please refer to the TQA section on Referral/Deferral: http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/aph/consequenceoffailure/
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Fundamentals of Aerospace Medicine
Edited by Jeffrey R. Davis , Edited by Robert Johnson , Edited by Jan Stepanek , Edited by Jennifer A. Fogarty
ELE – College to provide hyperlink to appropriate pages
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 12/10/2017 |
| Last revision date | 30/11/2021 |
