David Cooper

And what happens if there's a health emergency in deep space?

Well, that is a question we are about to explore with Dr. Farhan Azrar, a Toronto-based physician and space medicine researcher.

Farhan, welcome to the show.

Thank you.

My pleasure.

So tell me about space medicine.

I have to admit, when we reached out to you, I'd never even realized that would be a field.

How does it differ from just regular old medicine?

Is it a particularly risky environment?

I know for one, like your balance, you get vertigo, your head spins, your orientation of what's up and down can make you nauseous and throw up.

Like, are there any like obvious concerns that people wouldn't consider that the second you step in that seat or step in that chair or sit in that chair and head off like it's now going to be a problem?

Yeah, if I get a blood clot or a kidney stone, I head to the clinic.

I call 911.

Medical care is right then and there available to me in a hospital.

If that happens in space, I imagine there's all kinds of contingency plans or plans if an emergency happens.

But what are they?

What happens if an astronaut would have dialed 911 on Earth and they're stuck out in space with like a heart attack or a blood clot or I don't know anything?

Now, is there like an abort plan for the Artemis 2 mission?

Like, can they can they end the mission early or does it have to chart the course?

They have to just deal with the medical emergency and stay out there for several days.