Exploring Human Tolerance for Commercial Space Tourism

Wednesday, November 30
7:00 pm
Duncan Hall, McMurtry Auditorium
Reception at 6:30 pm

Charles Mather, M.D.
Medical Director, Aerospace Medicine Center
Assistant Chief Medical Officer, Center for Polar Medical Operations

ABSTRACT

The selection of astronauts is one of the most rigorous job application processes on the planet and the longstanding paradigm for screening prospective astronauts is to select out individuals who are medically, physically or psychologically unfit. The emerging commercial spaceflight industry and the growing interest in space tourism will challenge aerospace medicine physicians to develop appropriate screening protocols for those who choose to pay to fly into space. Space tourists will likely have a wide variety of chronic medical conditions that will need to be controlled or mitigated before flight. In this talk, we will discuss the latest research that is beginning to explore this new frontier in aerospace medicine.

BIO

Charles Mather received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rice University in 2002 and his Medical Doctorate with Honors from the University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine in 2007. He is a graduate of the UTMB/NASA Internal Medicine/Aerospace Medicine residency program and served as Chief Medical Resident from 2010-2011. Dr. Mathers is board-certified in internal Medicine and Aerospace medicine. He currently serves as Assistant Professor and Associate Program Director for the UTMB/NASA Aerospace Medicine Residency Program. His duties include working as an FAA Senior Aviation Medical Examiner and Medical Director for UTMB’s Aerospace medicine Center, a clinic that specializes in complex medical evaluations for pilots and the coordination of multi-day evaluations for commercial spaceflight participants undergoing certification for travel to the International Space Station. Dr. Mathers also serves as Assistant Chief Medical Officer for UTMB’s Center for Polar Medical Operations, which supports medical operations for the United States Antarctic Program. Dr. Mathers is active in clinical practice, teaching, and research, and also provides mentorship as Director of UTMB’s Aerospace Medicine Track for medical students.