21st CENTURY

competency of the astronauts and, if necessary, to begin
emergency treatment.
The data from these tests then served as the basis of
comparison for all inflight and postflight follow-up exams.
Only in this way could minor but significant changes
in organ functions of astronauts be detected. Despite
this intensive supervision, in almost all flights of the
Apollo series (including the first Moon mission of Apollo
11) there were occurrences of illness in crew members,
either shortly before launch or in flight. According to
NASA, 57 percent of the astronauts suffered from such
illnesses, although in most cases the astronauts had only
minor flu-type symptoms.
Just before the launch of Apollo 13, however, one of the
reserve astronauts came down with rubella (German measles)
and came into contact with the flight commander,
who was not immune. The Apollo 13 commander then had
to be replaced on very short notice. As a result, NASA
instituted a Health Stabilization Program, beginning with
Apollo 14, whose basic feature was to isolate crew members
from any possible infectious agent during the critical
phase before takeoff.
The Astronauts' Health Stabilization Program
This layered quarantine program involved basic inoculations
for the astronauts and their families, a comprehensive
protection program against infectious diseases, and a system
of rapid medical diagnosis and treatment. During the
last three weeks before launch, the crew was housed in
isolated quarters on the premises of the Johnson Space
EFFECT OF HEALTH STABILIZATION PROGRAM ON
INCIDENCE OF ILLNESS IN PRIME APOLLO CREWMEN
Mission Illness
Number of
crewmen
involved Mission phase
Center, and the following quarantine procedures were established:
• Throw-awa' utensils and separate headsets, microphones,
and so an were used.
• The air supaly was controlled using ultrasensitive filters
in the air o mditioning systems of the living quarters,
and a slight exo :ss pressure was generated so that used air
was directed ou tward and only fresh air could enter.
• The food for the astronauts was purchased in special
shops under th< i supervision of a hygiene expert. Random
microbiological tests of all the goods purchased were done
routinely, as w« II as daily inspections of the kitchen areas
for cleanliness.
• Separate w; iter supply systems were established for the
work and living areas of the astronauts, and water samples
were taken daif • from all water fountains for microbiological
tests.
• Personal a ntacts were limited during the critical period
before launch, especially in the area where the crew
was permitted t o stay. Only approximately 100 persons involved
in immediate launch preparations were allowed to
be in contact v ith the astronauts. These primary contact
persons were u ider tight medical supervision to make sure
that they wouk not inadvertently bring in infectious diseases.
No visito rs were allowed to come close to the astronauts,
and durii ig the last three weeks before launch, even
the astronauts' children were not permitted to see their
fathers, becaus; experience had shown that children are
frequent carrieis and transmitters of upper respiratory and
intestinal tract c iseases.
Source: Johnston, Dietlein, and Berry, Biomedical Results of Apollo, NASA, 1975, p. 53. NASA
Mission specialists Dr. William E. Thornton
(right) and Cuion S. Bluford test a
treadmill exercise device at the Johnson
Space Center.
21st CENTURY November-December 1988 67