Space travel can be exciting, inspirational and lead to untold discoveries about the universe and our own planet. It can also be extremely dangerous.
A routine medical issue on Earth could be a serious emergency aboard a shuttle or station orbiting the planet. In zero gravity, blood cannot be contained the way it can in a hospital operating room. So a moderate wound down here would pose a serious threat to one's life up there. The same thing could be said of a hull breach on a sailboat versus a space shuttle. Down here, you might get wet. In space, lives are constantly at risk.
According to an article in NewScientist, researchers may be making some progress toward mitigating medical risks in space. They are in the process of developing a surgical tool – the Aqueous Immersion Surgical System – that would make performing procedures in space far less dangerous. The device creates a seal around a wound or incision to contain blood and other bodily fluids, while airtight holes allow access to the area via orthoscopic instruments.
But, this is just the beginning. When we also look at the equipment used on the Mars rover Curiosity, like the Power Acquisition Drill System, or PADS, it is clear we are making significant strides. With PADS, Curiosity can drill two inches into the Martian surface and analyze rock samples. Technologies are advancing to the point where they can be deployed in environments so harsh that many thought it never possible.
The soldering solutions and techniques used in joining dissimilar metals that we develop here will allow the most advanced scientific equipment the world has ever seen to reveal mysteries about other planets and beyond. They will also make emergency repairs to shuttles easier and help safeguard the lives of all onboard.
One day, a human being will set foot on the Red Planet because these essential "building block" technologies made it possible.