**2.4 Moonbase operations**

As far as medical treatment and therapy for routine and emergency
medical care issues that will be used on a moonbase will be most
dependent on when mankind decides to go back to the moon for an
expedition or a permanent presence. The state of medical care at that
time will dictate to a large degree what will be available.

For any short-term expedition type stay (of a few weeks or months
duration) the medical care will probably be very similar to what is
being done at that time in low earth orbit. Since the moon is a 2-3 day
space flight away from the earth using conventional methods of
propulsion, medical care will necessarily need to be fairly independent
and self-sufficient. Probably most expeditions with a longer term
presence or any permanent moonbase with a will need a very well trained
CMO type of astronaut or a professionally trained physician, preferably
a generalist with some surgical or intervention skills. Again,
telemedicine reading of lab, blood tests and diagnostic imaging could
well be available through high data rate links, which should be possible
at that time. This will mean that interpretation of tests could depend
on earth expertise, but the equipment will need to be on site, the data
digitized and sent to earth for the interpretations. This would be more
efficient than depending entirely on expertise available on the moon, at
least initially. As the moonbase grows in size, power and population it
can become more independent from earth. Since there will be a 2-3 day
trip to earth for a medical transport, some surgical expertise will need
to be available on-site for emergencies, or if virtual surgical
techniques are developed these may be of assistance as well.

Since there is no atmosphere on the moon and the moon is outside the
protection given to earth afforded by the Van Allen belts which surround
the earth, and provide protection from radiation events from the sun and
extra-solar system sources of radiation. The moon is therefore bombarded
with the same amount of radiation that can happen in deep space or away
from earth. The protection for the astronauts could be given by building
their habitat to be covered by lunar soil, affording some protection.

If the astronauts are on prolonged EVAs or on rover type trips in
smaller land vehicles some protection may need to be made available on
the spot. All EVAs will probably involve at least two crewmembers
outside on the EVA with at least one other inside to monitor the EVA.
There are emergency shelter considerations on the moon surface away from
the base. There can be shielding concerns when away from a base that
could be sheltered probably with lunar soil. There maybe safe havens
that are established at various work spots for an EVA crew to hide and
be sheltered for a time from the radiation risk.

There will be extensive use of in situ resources for production of water
and oxygen for the crew. Closed loop environmental systems will recycle
water vapor, and water/urine. Oxygen is available on the moon from the
lunar soil and rocks and the oxygen will be extracted with the
assistance of the fairly abundant solar power or nuclear power plants
that will be developed.

If the medical condition of an individual exceeds the capability of the
crew or technical capabilities available at that time, there could be
non-emergent medical evacuation to earth for definitive treatment or
therapy. Most transportation scenarios involved a two to three day trip
from the moon to earth, where medical treatment would be state of the
art for the time in earth history.

In the case of a fatality on the moon, there will probably be a space
moon culture which will allow culture which will allow cremation and/or
burial on the moon, or transport of the body back to earth for whatever
"conventional burial" looks like at that point in history.