Korean J Aerosp Environ Med.  2012 Aug;22(2):31-38.

Medical Selection of the First Korean Astronaut

• Lim J
• Chung KY

Abstract

Background
In 2006, the first Korean candidates for astronauts were selected by Medical Working Groups in Korea. The purpose of this study is to review the medical selection process and develop it for the next astronaut selection in the future. Methods: Among 32,206 applicants, 485 applicants who had passed document review took the first medical test in Aerospace Medical Center. 245 applicants took the second medical test, only 30 applicants passed it. Finally, 2 applicants were selected as the candidates for the first Korean astronauts through the third and fourth medical test. Results: In April, 2008 they returned successfully from Internal Space Station to Earth after space flight. The most frequent cause of “select-out” was a photorefractive surgery history followed by abnormal chest X-ray findings and high blood glucose levels. Conclusion: The medical selection for the first Korean astronaut was successful. Although we did a lot of medical test to select them, the medical data were invaluable and will be very useful to the next selection of astronaut candidate in the future.

Keyword

Astronaut; Medical standard; Selection