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How did NASA explore the possibility of remote surgery for astronauts?
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robotic surgery
Laparoscopic cameras and robotic hands performing coronary artery bypass surgery in place of open-heart surgery.
In the 1970s, the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) explored the concept of remote surgery, or telesurgery, to address the medical needs of astronauts in orbit. The proposed system envisioned a machine equipped with surgical instruments located on a space station, which would be operated by a surgeon located on Earth.1
While this specific application for space travel was not fully realized, the research contributed to the broader development of robotic surgical concepts. These efforts, alongside advancements in telecommunication technologies, eventually paved the way for modern robotic surgery.