Medical Operations Team Members

A physician with knowledge in aerospace medicine who manages the health of astronauts

A flight surgeon (FS) is a specialized physician with knowledge of aerospace medicine who manages the health of pilots or astronauts.

The space agencies of ISS partner countries each train their own flight surgeons. As of 2020, JAXA has five flight surgeons who work on health management operations for Japanese astronauts.

A medical systems engineer with in-depth knowledge of remote monitoring devices and flight control

Health management operations for astronauts aboard the ISS differ from those at medical facilities on earth in various aspects. The most prominent difference is that all tasks must be done “remotely.”

This is why biomedical engineers with in-depth knowledge of remote monitoring devices and flight control assist flight surgeons. They are in charge of checking the status of medical devices and exercise equipment aboard the ISS, organizing the schedule for health management operations for astronauts, preparing for remote medical interviews, and maintaining health management documents.

The performance training program planner for long-term missions

The physiology specialist plans and develops the pre-flight exercise program that is physical performance training program for Japanese astronauts scheduled for long-term missions to the ISS. They manage the physical performance and health enhancement schedule for astronauts from one year before launch until the astronauts regain their pre-flight physical performance. While the astronauts are on orbit, they plan in-flight 2.5-hour exercise sessions seven days a week. Once the astronauts return to earth, they conduct two hours a day of rehabilitation program for about 45 days with the goal of returning the astronauts having pre-flight physical performance. The physiology specialist plans the program to ensure efficient recovery while giving consideration to astronauts’ post-flight physical performance.

A mental health counselor for astronauts facing the harsh environment of space

Maintaining mental health and well-being is critical to the success of long-term missions to the ISS. The psychophysiology specialist performs the following tasks in each phase of flight (pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight):

1. Conducting video counseling sessions
2. Reducing fatigue by analyzing and adjusting astronauts’ schedules, particularly sleeping shifts
3. Providing communication tools
4. Providing information
5. Providing goods

An expert who strictly monitors astronauts’ radiation exposure

The person responsible for monitoring the station environment

The environmental hygiene specialist monitors the environment of the station where the astronauts live while in orbit for, among other things, water, air, noise and microbes. They also monitor the environment of the Japanese transfer vehicle.