NASA Helping Trapped Miners in Chile
- 14 years ago
With 33 Chilean miners facing months of confinement, NASA is sending a team of experts to Chile on Monday to supply the government with tips on how it keeps astronauts aboard the space station both physically and mentally fit.
Dr. Michael Duncan is NASA's deputy chief medical officer.
[Dr. Michael Duncan, NASA Deputy Chief Medical Officer]:
"NASA has had a long experience in dealing with isolated environments, in particular currently on the space station. We train and plan contingencies for emergencies."
The miners were found alive one week ago - 17 days after a cave-in at a small gold and copper mine in Chile's remote north, but it could take up to four months to dig them out.
[Dr. Michael Duncan, NASA Deputy Chief Medical Officer]:
"NASA is providing advice. The Chileans are very well organized. They have a lot of resources at their disposal. They have done a lot for the miners and in fact the miners have done a lot for themselves underground to show the will to survive and to organize themselves to be able to survive this long. So our plan is to go down and provide the advice that the Chileans have requested in the areas of nutritional support and behavioral health support."
The 33 miners have not yet been given an exact time-frame, but have been promised they will back with their families by Christmas.
Dr. Michael Duncan is NASA's deputy chief medical officer.
[Dr. Michael Duncan, NASA Deputy Chief Medical Officer]:
"NASA has had a long experience in dealing with isolated environments, in particular currently on the space station. We train and plan contingencies for emergencies."
The miners were found alive one week ago - 17 days after a cave-in at a small gold and copper mine in Chile's remote north, but it could take up to four months to dig them out.
[Dr. Michael Duncan, NASA Deputy Chief Medical Officer]:
"NASA is providing advice. The Chileans are very well organized. They have a lot of resources at their disposal. They have done a lot for the miners and in fact the miners have done a lot for themselves underground to show the will to survive and to organize themselves to be able to survive this long. So our plan is to go down and provide the advice that the Chileans have requested in the areas of nutritional support and behavioral health support."
The 33 miners have not yet been given an exact time-frame, but have been promised they will back with their families by Christmas.