IT might sound like something out of a Hollywood disaster movie when a doctor is called on to talk an astronaut through an operation from Mission Control. However, for Dr Christina Mackaill it could well become a reality despite being literally millions of miles away from her day job on a busy emergency unit with NHS Ayrshire and Arran. It was an interest which was sparked at university but space medicine could become her speciality.
Read more: She is among three women who have set their their sights set on a future in space. From the emergency doctor, the space suit tester and astrophotographer, they are all taking part in this year’s Big Bang festival of astronomy and science.
Speaking ahead of her Big Bang appearance, called The Space Doctor Is In (on Friday, 5 March at 7.30pm), she said: “With Moon and Mars missions on the way and a burgeoning of space tourism coming soon we have to be able to deal with medical emergencies in space.
“There are no hospitals, no ambulances and will often be no doctors available. So one of the things we are looking at right now is how doctors need to respond if they are rushed into Mission Control and need to talk the crew of a spaceship through how to deal with something like a heart attack in microgravity.”
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