Pilot Medical Solutions provides advocacy-oriented guidance to civilian astronauts and spaceflight crew members. We help spaceflight candidates and their medical practitioners to meet or exceed space fitness requirements. Our assistance also includes guidance for compliance with international spaceflight fitness standards. Contact David Hale at 405-787-0303 to find out more about our spaceflight fitness certification program.
Photo: Recognizing Pilot Medical Solutions at the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine.
Spaceflight fitness guidelines provide minimum standards for passengers and operators of manned commercial aerospace flights. Standards have been developed by the FAA in collaboration with NASA and other aerospace medical professionals. Additional criteria, such as psychiatric and psychological metrics, have been utilized by the FAA and other government authorities to assure flight fitness. Spaceflight fitness medical standards are designed to identify those who have medical conditions which may result in an in-flight medical emergency while in space. While in-flight medical emergencies are not common, medical conditions and compromised health are exacerbated by hypoxia, G-forces and other elements of aircraft and of course spacecrafts. Theses standards and additional fitness guidelines are designed to bolster the safety of spacecraft occupants. The spaceflight environment includes suborbital and orbital missions and is more hazardous than the airline or general aviation domain. Mental and physical fitness are evaluated beyond what is required for operations within the normal flight envelope. Pilot Medical Solutions has a Space Fitness Certification program which provides supports space flight candidates.
Aerospace Physiology Spaceflight Fitness FAA Aerospace Guidance
| Spaceflight Candidate Medical Standards Overview | |
| DISTANT VISION | 20/20 or better in each eye separately, with or without correction. |
| NEAR VISION | 20/40 or better in each eye separately (Snellen equivalent), with or without correction, as measured at 16 inches. |
| INTERMEDIATE VISION |
20/40 or better in each eye separately (Snellen equivalent), with or without correction at age 50 and over, as measured at 32 inches. |
| COLOR VISION | Ability to perceive those colors necessary for safe performance of airmen duties. |
| HEARING | Demonstrate hearing of an average conversational voice in a quiet room, using both ears at 6 feet, with the back turned to the examiner OR pass one of the audiometric tests below or: |
| PULSE | Not disqualifying per se. Used to determine cardiac system status and responsiveness. |
| BLOOD PRESSURE | No specified values stated in the standards. Current guideline maximum is 155/95. |
| AUDIOLOGY | Audiometric speech discrimination test: (Score at least 70% discrimination in one ear) or: |
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Pure tone audiometric test: Unaided, with thresholds no worse than: |
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| EAR, NOSE, THROAT | No ear disease or condition manifested by, or that may reasonably be expected to be manifested by, vertigo or a disturbance of speech or equilibrium. |
| ELECTRO-CARDIOGRAM | At age 35 & annually after age 40. |
| MENTAL | No diagnosis of psychosis, or bipolar disorder, or severe personality disorders. |
| SUBSTANCE DEPENDENCE & SUBSTANCE ABUSE | A diagnosis or medical history of substance dependence is disqualifying unless there is established clinical evidence, satisfactory to the Federal Air Surgeon, of recovery, including sustained total abstinence from the substance(s) for not less than the preceding 2 years. A history of substance abuse within the preceding 2 years is disqualifying. Substance includes alcohol and other drugs (i.e., PCP, sedatives and hypnotics, anxiolytics, marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, hallucinogens, and other psychoactive drugs or chemicals). |
| DISQUALIFYING CONDITIONSAirman with these conditions may still be eligible for “Special Issuance” of a medical certificate. |
Unless otherwise directed by the FAA, the Examiner must deny or defer if the applicant has a history of: (1) Diabetes mellitus requiring hypoglycemic medication; (2) Angina pectoris; (3) Coronary heart disease that has been treated or, if untreated, that has been symptomatic or clinically significant; (4) Myocardial infarction; (5) Cardiac valve replacement; (6) Permanent cardiac pacemaker; (7) Heart replacement; (8) Psychosis; (9) Bipolar disorder; (10) Personality disorder that is severe enough to have repeatedly manifested itself by overt acts; (11) Substance dependence; (12) Substance abuse; (13) Epilepsy; (14) Disturbance of consciousness and without satisfactory explanation of cause, and (15) Transient loss of control of nervous system function(s) without satisfactory explanation of cause. |
Waivers | Spaceflight Requirements | Space Programs | Aerospace Physiology
The guidelines and information listed above may not be the latest standards and may not be applicable to you or your specific space flight.
Contact Pilot Medical Solutions at 405-787-0303 to learn about our space fitness program and accelerated FAA medical certification.
Pilot Medical Solutions provides space fitness guidance and accelerated FAA medical certification.
