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First zero-gravity human surgery First zero-gravity human surgery
(about 3 hours later)
A team of French doctors are setting off in a plane to carry out the first operation on a human being under weightless conditions. A team of French doctors are planning to carry out the first operation on a human being under weightless conditions in a specially adapted aircraft.
It is hoped the trial will be a first step to performing surgery in space.It is hoped the trial will be a first step to performing surgery in space.
The doctors will be removing a benign tumour from the arm of a volunteer as the plane makes a series of manoeuvres to create weightlessness.The doctors will be removing a benign tumour from the arm of a volunteer as the plane makes a series of manoeuvres to create weightlessness.
The surgeons will be working strapped to the sides of the plane while the patient is held inside a plastic tent.The surgeons will be working strapped to the sides of the plane while the patient is held inside a plastic tent.
Specially designed instruments have been fitted with magnets to attach them to the metal operating table.Specially designed instruments have been fitted with magnets to attach them to the metal operating table.
Earthly spin-offsEarthly spin-offs
During the three-hour flight above south-west France, the plane will be making parabolic swoops to create zero gravity. During the three-hour flight above south-west France, the specially designed Airbus A300 Zero-G will be making parabolic swoops to create zero gravity.
The operation will be carried out in a series of 20-second periods of weightlessness.The operation will be carried out in a series of 20-second periods of weightlessness.
The French doctors have already operated on a rat in zero-gravityThe French doctors have already operated on a rat in zero-gravity
It is the first time such an operation has been tried on a human being - until now, the medical team have only experimented on rats. Both patient and medical team have been trained to cope with zero-gravity in machines similar to those used by astronauts.
"Since February we have been rehearsing this operation on the ground and in the plane. It is all crystal clear in our heads," said chief surgeon Dominique Martin, quoted by AFP news agency.
It is the first time such an operation has been tried on a human being.
Earlier this year, Mr Martin and his team mended a artery in a rat's tail 0.5mm in diameter.
It is part of a long-term project to study the possibility of carrying out surgery during long-distance space flights, using robots in the spacecraft, guided by doctors on Earth via a satellite link.It is part of a long-term project to study the possibility of carrying out surgery during long-distance space flights, using robots in the spacecraft, guided by doctors on Earth via a satellite link.
It will be many years before such technology would be needed - perhaps on long flights to Mars. The BBC's Valerie Jones says it will be many years before such technology would be needed - perhaps on long flights to Mars.
But the researchers say there could be a spin-off for Earth.But the researchers say there could be a spin-off for Earth.
The equipment could be used for emergencies in confined locations such as caves or in buildings toppled by earthquakes.The equipment could be used for emergencies in confined locations such as caves or in buildings toppled by earthquakes.