Space Station Freedom CHeCS Overview

The Crew Health Care System (CHeCS) for the International Space Station Freedom will provide crew medical care, environmental monitoring, and exercise needs for a Freedom crew of four to eight astronauts. The three subsystems of the CHeCS, the Health Maintenance Facility (HMF), the Environmental Health System (EHS), and the Exercise Countermeasures Facility (ECF), are being developed at the NASA Johnson Space Center to address specific crew health needs during the extended missions on board Freedom. The HMF will provide out-patient minor care for the entire crew, and more intensive care for one crewmember until return to Earth. The EHS will monitor critical Freedom environmental health parameters, such as water and air quality, toxic threats, and the microbial environment to verify an acceptable environment for Freedom crewmembers. The ECF will consist of regular crew exercise periods and physiologic monitoring to promote crew health and fitness, and aid in avoiding the potential deconditioning effects of extended exposure to microgravity. The HMF, EHS, and ECF subsystems will combine to provide vital services for the Freedom program by promoting crew health and performance over the 30-year operation of the Space Station. This session will present the current status and progress of the CHeCS, along with future plans for development of the CHeCS.