Crew Recovery and Contingency Planning for a Manned Stratospheric Balloon Flight – the StratEx Program
Abstract The StratEx program used a self-contained space suit and balloon system to loft pilot Alan Eustace to a record-breaking altitude and skydive from 135,897 feet (41,422 m). After releasing from the balloon and a stabilized freefall, the pilot safely landed using a parachute system based on a modified tandem parachute rig. A custom spacesuit provided life support using a similar system to NASA’s (National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Washington, DC USA) Extravehicular Mobility Unit. It also provided tracking, communications, and connection to the parachute system. A recovery support team, including at least two medical personnel and two spacesuit technicians, was charged with reaching the pilot within five minutes of touchdown to extract him from the suit and provide treatment for any injuries. The team had to track the flight at all times, be prepared to respond in case of premature release, and to operate in any terrain. Crew recovery operations were planned and tailored to anticipate outcomes during this novel event in a systematic fashion, through scenario and risk analysis, in order to minimize the probability and impact of injury. This analysis, detailed here, helped the team configure recovery assets, refine navigation and tracking systems, develop procedures, and conduct training. An extensive period of testing and practice culminated in three manned flights leading to a successful mission and setting the record for exit altitude, distance of fall with stabilizing device, and vertical speed with a stabilizing device. During this mission, recovery teams reached the landing spot within one minute, extracted the pilot, and confirmed that he was not injured. This strategy is presented as an approach to prehospital planning and care for improved safety during crew recovery in novel, extreme events. MenonAS, JourdanD, NusbaumDM, GarbinoA, BucklandDM, NortonS, ClarkJB, AntonsenEL. Crew recovery and contingency planning for a manned stratospheric balloon flight – the StratEx program. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2016;31(5):524–531.
Flat spin and negative Gz in high-altitude free fall: pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment.
INTRODUCTION
Red Bull Stratos was a commercial program that brought a test parachutist protected by a full pressure suit to 127,852 ft (38,964 m), via a stratospheric balloon with a pressurized capsule, from which he free fell and subsequently parachuted to the ground. In light of the uniqueness of the operation and the medical threats faced, medical protocols specific to distinctive injury patterns were developed. One unique threat was that of a flat spin during free fall with resultant exposure to -Gz (toe-to-head) acceleration. In preparation for stratospheric free fall, the medical team conducted a review of the literature on the spectrum of human and animal injury patterns attributable to -Gz exposures. Based on the findings, an emergency medical field response protocol was developed for the rapid assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals suspected of -Gz injury.


METHODS
A systematic review was conducted on available literature on human and animal studies involving significant -Gz exposure, with subsequent development of an applicable field treatment protocol.


RESULTS
The literature review identified pathophysiologic processes and mitigation strategies that were used to develop a prevention and treatment protocol, outlining appropriate interventions using current best medical practices. A medical field treatment protocol was successfully established for the high-altitude balloon program.


DISCUSSION
Available literature provided insight into best medical practices for the prevention and treatment of significant -Gz exposures during high-altitude parachute activity. Using the protocol developed for the field medical response, injuries from sustained -Gz exposure can be effectively managed in similar high-altitude and space operations.
Heritage Languages: In the 'Wild' and in the Classroom
Heritage speakers are people raised in a home where one language is spoken who subsequently switch to another dominant language. The version of the home language that they have not completely acquired – heritage language – has only recently been given the attention it deserves from linguists and language instructors. Despite the appearance of great variation among heritage speakers, they fall along a continuum based upon the speakers’ distance from the baseline language. Such a continuum-based model enables researchers and instructors to classify heritage speakers more accurately and readily. This article discusses the results of research on lower-proficiency speakers, identifying recurrent features of heritage languages in phonology, morphology, and syntax. Preliminary results indicate that different heritage languages share a number of structural similarities; this finding is important for the understanding of general processes involved in language acquisition. The article also presents implications of the main findings for language education and identifies areas needing further study.