HMP Research Station | Haughton-Mars Project: HMP Research Station Status Report

Dr. Jean-Marc Comtois (Head, Operational Space Medicine, CSA) and Dr. Christian Otto (University of Ottawa) performed another mock-appendetomy scenario today, this time with a built in delay with Detroit to simulate telementoring between Earth and Mars. [yours truly] Elaine Walker (EPO, Mars Institute) did some more over-acting as the mock-patient. The actual mock surgery was done inside of a box full of very realistic mock organs.

The DAME team had another good day. Sarah Thompson (NASA Ames) worked hard on the code, Sarah Hoffman (NASA Ames) removed the casing from the drill, and Stephen Braham (HMP Associate Director / Communications) worked to improve the signal to the DAME site. The rest of the team also worked at the site and continued to meet the daily goals for the core sampling project.

Christine Pires (Simon Fraser University, HMP System Support Specialist) did a lot of desktop support around the HMP Research Station, particularly for Vince Pisacane (US Naval Academy / NSBRI) who was very thankful.

There were two talks in the mess tent this evening. Dr. Vince Pisacane talked about the HAWK2 Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter (TEPC), which he has used at locations in and around the Haughton impact structure this season with the HMP. The HAWK2 measures the radiation risk in real time and is funded by the National Space Biomedical Research Institute. Dr. Pisacane is a Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the US Naval Academy and holds the Robert A. Heinlein chair.

Dr. Christian Otto (Emergency Medicine, University of Ottawa) gave a presentation this evening, describing his incredible journey to the summit of Mt. Everest with his 19 year old brother, who became the youngest Canadian to summit Mt. Everest. This was the first presentation he has done on their very recent summit. Dr. Otto is an emergency physician, and one of the world’s leading experts in remote operational medicine.

Photo Set: HMP RS - July 27, 2008

"HMP7SFU Portable Elaine out and clear"