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  • NASA Flight Surgeon: Keeping Astronauts Healthy on the International Space Station
    Dr. Serena Aunón-Chancellor is a NASA flight surgeon currently assigned to the International Space Station (ISS) as a member of the Expedition 56 crew. She was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2009 and completed her first spaceflight in 2018, spending 197 days on the ISS.

    As a flight surgeon, Dr. Aunón-Chancellor is responsible for the health and well-being of the crew members on the ISS. She provides medical care, conducts research on the effects of space travel on the human body, and develops countermeasures to mitigate these effects.

    One of the biggest challenges of being a space doctor is the lack of access to the same medical resources that are available on Earth. On the ISS, there is no hospital, no MRI machine, and no team of doctors and nurses. Dr. Aunón-Chancellor must rely on her own knowledge and skills to diagnose and treat medical conditions, and she must be able to do so in a timely manner.

    Another challenge of being a space doctor is the potential for psychological problems. Astronauts live in a very confined space, and they are constantly under a lot of stress. This can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems. Dr. Aunón-Chancellor must be able to recognize the signs of psychological distress and provide support to the astronauts.

    Despite the challenges, Dr. Aunón-Chancellor enjoys her work as a flight surgeon. She finds it very rewarding to be able to help people stay healthy in such a challenging environment. She is also grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of space exploration.

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