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Medical Research
last update: Aug 20, 2008 11:02 AM
All personnel of an Antarctic station must go through thorough health checks before they are allowed to go to Antarctica. Many countries differ in the way that they perform health checks. Some countries, for example, do psychological testing, while others do a wide range of chemical and physiological tests.
Scientists investigate the behaviour of the personnel in small groups, their body rhythms (mainly sleeping patterns), and healthcare. The population of an Antarctic station must therefore be fit, eat the same diet, and experience the same environment for fair testing.
Much of the medical research done is used by NASA to understand the physical and psychological effects of living in confined spaces for extended periods of time. With missions planned to Mars etc, it is essential to understand these types of things before selecting people and setting off on the 9 month journey.
