NASA is preparing to carry out revolutionary missions, including the return of humans to the Moon with the Artemis mission and the eventual exploration of Mars in the 2030s. However, with these ambitious goals too the need arises to consider what would happen if an astronaut died during these extended missions in space.
Historically, space exploration has experienced tragedies, such as the Apollo I fire in 1967 and the Challenger disasters in 1986 and Columbia disasters in 2003, which caused loss of life. However, there has never been a death in space itself.
According to Emmanuel Urquieta, an expert in space medicine, the protocol for handling a death in space would depend on where it occurs. If it occurs on the International Space Station or a low-Earth orbit mission, surviving astronauts could prepare a capsule to return the body to Earth within a few hours.
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In the case of the Moon, where the return trip to Earth lasts approximately three days, NASA would prioritize the preservation of the body by placing it in a special bag to preserve it. However, if the lives of the other astronauts are in danger, they could choose to leave the body on the Moon to be recovered on a later mission.
But what happens if death occurs on Mars, where the round trip would take approximately seven to nine months each way?
Urquieta suggests that the only viable option would be to equip the spacecraft with a separate chamber capable of keeping the body in suitable conditions for a prolonged period, since other options, such as cremation or burial on the Martian surface, would be impractical.
In short, as NASA prepares for new frontiers in space exploration, it must also carefully consider planning for unforeseen situations, such as the death of an astronaut in space, to ensure the safety and success of these historic missions.