Eli5: What would be the protocol for the case of an Astronaut suffering a heart attack or similar serious medical condition, (and has it ever happenend before?) on the ISS?
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Retired Manager for Space Shuttle Atlantis here: For an Emergency on the Shuttle, we could deorbit and land somewhere within 4 hours. But for a heart attack or stroke coming back into gravity woukd most likely be fatal. It’s the same on the ISS. For a heart attack or stroke, they can deorbit in Soyuz and land in about 6 hours. Im not up to date on what Dragon emergency deorbit time is. For something chronic like gallstones, etc, they would plan a deorbit and landing during the next regular Orbital pass over the landing area.
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