UVA trauma doctor helped prepare for emergencies during NASA’s Artemis II mission

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - While the world watched NASA’s Artemis II mission return safely from the moon, a doctor at UVA Health was preparing for the possibility something could go wrong.

Dr. Brendan Byrne, a trauma doctor at UVA Health and Navy reservist, was part of the Artemis II recovery operation stationed off the coast of Southern California during the crew’s return to Earth.

“At the end of the day, I am there purely as a safety measure,” Byrne said.

Byrne’s background includes emergency and at-sea medical care. During the mission, he was part of the team responsible for responding if astronauts needed emergency medical treatment after returning from space.

“They’re coming down at 24,000 miles an hour and splashing down on the Pacific Ocean,” Byrne said. “You know, so all of that, that’s what we do best.”

Byrne said the launch day carried significant pressure for the recovery team because multiple emergency scenarios had already been planned for.

“Day of launch was a pretty locked on, high stress day for all of us,” Byrne said. “Had they launched and kind of gotten all the way up to the atmosphere, but not really gotten into orbit, they would’ve then spun once around the earth and come down the Pacific ... in which case then that would have been our responsibility.”

Ultimately, the crew returned safely, and Byrne did not need to provide emergency medical care.

Still, he said astronauts can experience medical issues even when missions go according to plan.

“They call it space adaptation syndrome,” Byrne said. “The number of things that your body does differently in space are really profound and fascinating.”

The mission also marked a historic milestone. Astronaut Victor Glover became the first Black astronaut to travel that far into space.

Byrne said the magnitude of being part of such a historic mission did not fully sink in until afterward.

“Seeing the texts from my kids and my friends and my enormously talented colleagues who are far, far more capable people than I and how enthusiastic they were was really what brought it home,” Byrne said.

Byrne said one of the most meaningful parts of the experience was seeing how emotionally invested people became in the mission and realizing how much inspiration it brought to viewers around the world.

Do you have a story idea? Send us your news tip here.