Dr. Jurewicz

This presentation will examine the multifaceted biomedical risks associated with space
missions, highlighting the crucial role of risk management in protecting astronauts. It will
begin with an overview of historical and ongoing space missions, analyzing how risk
management strategies have evolved to address human space hazards. Identified key
hazards include: exposure to radiation, microgravity, isolation in a confined
environment, great distances from Earth, and the psychological stress of extended
missions. These hazards, through complex systemic interactions, create a multitude of
biomedical risks to astronauts, including cancer, cardiovascular issues, diminished
vision, central nervous system issues, loss of bone structure, and cognitive behavior
decrements. Many of these risks are categorized as unacceptable by current
management risk evaluation standards. The risks provide challenges for continuing
research and will cause comprehensive preparation, pre-flight health screenings, and
new and more in-flight countermeasures. The story leads to the ultimate question of the
role of humans in space exploration.

Biography:

Ben R. Jurewicz, Retired Aerospace Engineer

POSITIONS HELD:

Chief Advanced Systems at Hamilton Standard (Now Collins Aerospace at RTX Corp.); Director, Systems Integration Division at Thiokol (now Northrup Grumman); VP of Engineering at Sperry Aerospace & Marine (Now also Northrup Grumman); VP Operational Systems at USAA; Director of the Institute for Studies in Business at UTSA; and Currently an Adjunct at St. Mary's University

COLLEGE EDUCATION:

BS Aerospace Engineering, Penn State, MS and EAA in Aeronautics & Astronautics from MIT & MBA from UCONN.

BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Transferred space life support technology from spacecraft to nuclear submarines; Lead team that installed Harbor Traffic Control System in Milford Have, Wales; Developed Systems Engineering Culture at Thiokol after the Challenger Accident; Lead team that Used Systems Engineering to fix Flood Insurance Y2K Pb at USAA; & Secured a $2M grant from Dept. of Commerce for UTSA.

ACTIVE IN ORGANIZATIONS:

American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics (AIAA) Associate Fellow; Inter. Committee on Systems Engineering (INCOSE), Torch Club VP of Membership & Served 6 years on MIT Engineering Advisory Council.