Transcript Aerospace Psychiatry : Indo-Soviet Joint Manned Space

Presidential address oration on 14th
December 2008 at Sariska Palace,Alwar
Aerospace Psychiatry : Indo-Soviet Joint Manned
Space Odyssey and Yogic Perspective
Dr.J.M.Wadhawan MD,PhD
Chairperson
Department of Psychiatry
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital
Aerospace Psychiatry : An Emerging New Frontier
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Chandrayyan-I : 14th November, 2008
Chandrayyan-II : Between 2010 to 2012
Manned flight low earth orbit - 2014
Manned Lunar mission : 2020
Colonization of moon and mars
Aerospace Psychiatry : An Emerging New Frontier
Pictures of the Earth taken by Chandrayyan 1
Indo-Soviet Joint Manned Space Odyssey
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Indian Cosmonaut : Rakesh Sharma
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3rd April – 11 April ,1984
Significance of Space Odyssey
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Scientific
Strategic and military purposes
Commercial
Industrial
Political
Environmental stresses during Space Flight
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Internal elements of man
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Dynamic elements : Weightlessness
: Acceleration
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Physical elements
Environmental stresses during Space Flight
Physical elements :
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Radiation safety
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Artificial gas atmosphere and it’s contaminants
Affects of Zero-g space environment on cardiovascular
system
Headward fluid shift
Complex neuro-humoral reflex mechanism
Cardiovascular deconditioning
Affects of Zero-g space environment on
musculo-skeletal system
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Comparative disuse and atonia of muscles
Decrease in bioelectric activity of neck,pelvis and back muscles
Decrease in muscle volume particularly lower extremities
Increase in performance time
Diminished work capacity
Rapid fatigue
Space motion sickness
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Americans : 80 %
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Soviet : 60 %
Spatial illusory sensations in weightlessness
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Tumbling forward or backward
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Inverted or head down body position
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Spinning of body
Nysgatmus in space
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Spontaneous nystagmus seen in both horizontal and vertical
directions
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Positional nystagmus
Selection of a cosmonaut
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Selection amongst supernormal
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Performance evaluation on flight oriented psychomotor tasks
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Isolation
Selection of a cosmonaut
Training of a cosmonaut
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18 months to 2 years
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Zero gravity training
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Centrifuge rotation training
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Physical training
Training of a cosmonaut
Training of a cosmonaut
Training of a cosmonaut
Training of a cosmonaut
Yoga experiments
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Aimed to determine the role of yogic exercises in minimising the
adverse effects of weightlessness during the space flight from 3rd
April to 11th April 1984
Yoga experiments
Yogic Asanas
Yogic Asanas
Yogic Asanas
Stretch up exercise
Tiger stretch
SURYANAMASKAR
SURYANAMASKAR
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Ardhakati chakrasana
Parsva konasana
Ardha Cakrasana
Padahastasana
Parivrtta Trikonasana
Uddiyana Bandha
Sasankasana
Ustrasana
Pascimatanasana
Padmasana
Ardha Matsyendrasana
Viparitakarani Asana
Sarvangasana
Matsyasana
Halasana
Cakrasana
Bhujangasana
Salabhasana
Dhanurasana
Shavasana
Yogic exercises Vs standard inflight exercise
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Comparable results
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Definite beneficial effects
Experience in the orbit
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Felt suspended upside down for 3-5 hours
Face flushed
Fullness of nose
Temperature 99 degree F
Positional disorientation
Confusion
Backache
Beautiful views of earth and sky
Orbital home comfortable
Experience in the orbit
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Inflight Mood Rating Questionnaire
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Medico-psychological Questionnaire
Return to Earth
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Returned from maiden space voyage on 11th April 2008
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Felt weight had gone up 3 times and this feeling lasted for 12-18
hours
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Disorientation,fuzziness of head lasted for 3 days
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After 3 days,felt as good a back to earth bound life
Return to Earth
Return to Earth
Conclusion
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Biomedical information obtained from manned space flight so far optimistic
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Various body systems are involved in the adaptation processes: in 1-2
months,man becomes relatively stable
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Yogic exercises had beneficial effects on the Indian Cosmonaut
Conclusion
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Future of planet earth lies on outer space
Absence of gravity is major hurdle to civilization in space
Certain problems remain unsolved like increased susceptibility to
illness,lowered resistance to infection and neuro-emotional changes
Search on solution needs further experiments in this field of life
sciences
Evidence indicates that the extent of adaptation to weightlessness and
to other forces can be manipulated by various means
A promising role for Psychiatrists,Psychologists and other medical
specialities.