Google and NASA develop an AI tool to treat the health problems of astronauts in space

Google and NASA, the American space agency, collaborate in the development of an artificial intelligence tool (AI) intended to solve health problems in space, while the United States is considering longer-term missions to March and the Moon.

Baptized “Crew Medical Officer Digital Assistant“, The automated system will help astronauts and their medical teams on earth”diagnose and treat symptoms“In real time during space missions, according to a Google blog post.

The tool will also help flight surgeons, doctors specializing in space medicine, providing them with predictive data and analyzes to help them make decisions.

The first results of the principle validation project showed “Reliable diagnoses based on reported symptoms“, And the company now works with doctors to test and refine the model.

The AI digital assistant would give detailed diagnostics and processing options when astronauts have only limited contact with their teams on Earth, said the company.

According to Google, “It becomes more and more important as NASA’s missions venture further into space“.

These works are involved as NASA is preparing to launch the missions Artemis 2 and 3 which will bring humans to the moon for the first time since the Apollo program in the 1960s. These lunar missions are part of a roadmap Until the first Martian missions of the United States, planned as soon as possible in the 2030s.

“This innovative system is not just about supporting spatial exploration; It is a question of posting the limits of what is possible with AI to provide essential care in the most distant and most demanding environments“Said Google.

What type of medical support do astronauts currently receive?

THE astronauts of NASA receives general medical training on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (RCP), behavioral health, basic first aid and the use of a medical kit. They also get to know specific space diseases, such as the effects of carbon dioxide exposure on the body and decompression evil.

Doctors, psychologists and theft surgeons are part of the NASA ground team who ensures the health of astronauts before, during and after the space missions, the agency said.

Astronauts have access to A “robust pharmacy” and medical equipment aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and can return to earth if they need urgent medical care.

However, a 2023 study on independent spatial medical operations, published in the IEE Open Journal of Engineering in Medicine and Biology, note that Astronauts carrying out missions outside the low terrestrial orbit (LEO), for example those who go to the moon or to Mars, would not have access to medical assistance in real time due to communication delays.

The moon being outside the low terrestrial orbit, the researchers provide for a communication time of up to 10 seconds and an emergency evacuation to the earth that can last up to two weeks.

For multi -year missions Towards Marchthe situation is even more difficult, according to the study. It would take at least six months to extract an astronaut in a medical emergency and bring it back to earth more than 500 million kilometers.

In addition, any urgent communication would be delayed by 40 minuteswhich means that medical support on board should be “significantly more robust than on the ISS“, According to the study.

For a mission on Mars to be successful, the medical system will have “Establish precise diagnoses and anticipate the questions of specialists on the ground … [pour] limit the need for repeated exchanges“Specify the authors of the study.