Indian Armed Forces medical services to assist ISRO in providing medical support for 'Gangayaan' mission

While the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing for Indian's manned space mission 'Gaganyaan' scheduled in 2022, it will have full-fledged support of the Indian Armed forces' Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) to provide medical assistance to the crew members. 

ISRO officials have contacted the Armed Forces Medical Services in this regard and now the discussion on the program is being finalised. 

"ISRO has approached us to work with the Institute of Aerospace Medicine on the Gangayaan projected," Lt Gen Bipin Puri, Director General, Armed Forces Medical Services said here on Thursday. Puri was speaking to media on the sidelines of 67th annual Armed Forces Medical Conference held at Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) on Thursday.  

Elaborating the details of the program where Institute of Aerospace Medicine would be associated with the Gangayaan mission, Air Marshal Rajvir Singh, Director General Medical Services (AIR) said, "The biggest challenge is of medical support in the space as it is a very complex issue.

IAM is the only center in the country to work in this field. Currently, IAM's team is in talks with the ISRO officials to chalk out the plan on providing medical support to the crew members during the space mission."