The International Space Station’s Expedition 30 crew – Commander Dan Burbank and Flight Engineers Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin – performed science experiments and maintenance Tuesday and prepared for the rendezvous and attachment of a commercial cargo craft on its demonstration flight targeted for February.

Burbank later participated in the Integrated Cardiovascular experiment, which measures the atrophy of the heart muscle that appears to develop during long-duration spaceflight. Investigators use the data from these tests to develop countermeasures to keep the crew healthy, which is crucial as NASA moves toward sending humans deeper into space than ever before. The research may also have benefits for people on Earth with heart problems.

Before taking a break for lunch, all three crew members teamed up for a training drill to sharpen their response to a medical emergency aboard the station. Working through the simulation, Burbank, Shkaplerov and Ivanishin refreshed their memories of the location and use of Crew Health Care System equipment. Afterward the crew tagged up with flight controllers to review the results and discuss any needed changes.

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Issue:  Recent combat experience, especially in Afghanistan and Iraq operations, has shown that appropriate and readily available training for medical specialists and warfighters can save lives on the battlefield.  More lives are being saved and more severe injuries are being encountered and managed than in any other military operation.  New technology and procedures have been instrumental, but the critical factor is well-trained warfighters and medical specialists – well-trained as individuals and as a team.  Simulation technology must continue to keep pace with emerging operational requirements and innovative enabling technology developments.  Most importantly, RDT&E initiatives must be quickly transitioned to the field.

Based on this premise, the National Center for Simulation and the Central Florida Congressional Representatives were successful in securing three years of Congressional Funding to meet this need and the JMST-IPT was formed.

Discussion:  The Joint Medical Simulation Technology IPT will serve as the principal center and focal point for collaboration between the primary defense organizations conducting research and development activities in medicalmodeling and simulation for education, training, therapy, and rehabilitation.  This will be a joint,  cooperative initiative that will support research projects, teamwork, and information sharing between the TATRC (USAMRMC), STTC (RDECOM)  and other defense activities engaged in medical simulation RDT&E.  The primary mission of the JMST IPT will be to promote more rapid research, development, evaluation, acquisition, and fielding of militarymedical modeling and simulation technologies and products, including adaptation of commercial off-the-shelf products and technologies, where appropriate.  The JMST IPT will provide focused coordination of research activities, information sharing, rapid response, quick turn-around, and smooth transition to the field in response to pressing military operational and warfighter health, safety, and medical training needs.

Management of the JMST IPT has been subordinated to Ms Beth H. Pettitt, Division Chief, Soldier Simulation Environments at the RDECOM SFC Paul Ray Smith Simulation & Training Technology Center in Orlando, which will be responsible for meeting the Program Objectives established in the Congressional Appropriation.

The first objective was to establish a Steering Committee (SC) to guide the research and development topics such that the outcome can benefit all services. The SC membership includes modeling and simulation leaders from all services, including USAF, USN and the Army and Industry is represented by NCS. Secondly, a series of projects would begin to support the research goals. These programs are described in the PowerPoint file.

Source: National Center for Simulation