Scott-Conner's term on the committee, which is under the direction of the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine, runs through Sept. 30, 2001.
Space is one of the most extreme environments that humans have ever entered.
The current NASA medical care approach has been adequate for short-duration flights. However, with prolonged human presence in space come new challenges. There is increased potential for acute, sub-acute and chronic physical and mental medical conditions. The committee is composed of 15 leading clinicians, a psychologist, an ethicist and a physician astronaut. The members met for the first time in late October.