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Medical Care in Microgravity

by Tina Beychok

One of the more dangerous problems that can happen during long-duration spaceflight is interpersonal conflict between crewmembers. Such conflicts can endanger both the crew and the mission. Just as at home, many of these conflicts may be culturally based.

This problem becomes even more critical as astronauts and cosmonauts from around the globe now form crews aboard the Shuttle and Space Station. A report in the May issue of Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine highlights some of the difficulties in studying how such cultural conflicts happen and how to resolve them.

Unfortunately, issues of crew dynamics are only are reported in popular media, such as newspapers or on television, as opposed to in scientific publications. As a result, crewmembers are selected on an individual basis, rather than on their cultural backgrounds. The authors suggest increasing intercultural training, as well as communication and interpersonal training as a means of hopefully reducing such conflicts in the future.

Tina Beychok is a medical editor and is married to OASIS president Steve Bartlett. When not working as a space activist, she teaches fencing at Renaissance Fairs and greatly enjoys allowing five-year-olds to poke holes in her.