Washington:
Chile has sought US space agency NASA's help to provide nutritional and behavioral health support to 33 miners trapped inside a gold and silver mine since August 5.(Watch: NASA called-in to help trapped miners)
A four-person team, including two physicians and a psychologist, are planning to go to Chile next week, said Michael Duncan, NASA's lead on the Chile effort. NASA has a long history in dealing with isolated environments and thinks experiences in space and underground are not too different, Duncan was quoted as saying by CNN.
He said NASA has been asked by Chile to help provide nutritional and behavioral health support to the miners. "It's an opportunity to us to bring the space-flight experience back down to the ground," said Duncan.
Meanwhile, the 33 miners trapped inside a mine have been told for the first time that they could be stuck underground for as long as four months. Officials expect drilling on a rescue shaft, a process that workers have said could take four months to complete, to
begin this weekend.
Even under the best-case scenario, the trapped miners will be underground for quite some time -- posing a host of practical and psychological problems. The miners, trapped 2,300 feet below the surface, have been trying to keep their spirits -- and the spirits of their loved ones -- from flagging.
They sent a video message to their families on Thursday in which they expressed thanks for the efforts under way to free them and displayed occasional flashes of humour and patriotism.(Watch: Chilean miners message to their families)
Doctors have given the miners advice about how to keep their limited living space clean: Portions of a 1-meter-high, 40-meter-long shaft are being used as a latrine. It is connected to the main cabin, which is being used for sleeping, washing and praying.
The men's sole lifeline to the outside world is a tube approximately 8 centimeters in diameter, through which food, water, clothing, video and radio equipment and whatever else is needed are stuffed.
Chilean Health Minister Jaime Manalich said that, on average, each man has lost 10 kilogrammes since they became trapped three weeks ago, and dehydration remains a threat.
A four-person team, including two physicians and a psychologist, are planning to go to Chile next week, said Michael Duncan, NASA's lead on the Chile effort. NASA has a long history in dealing with isolated environments and thinks experiences in space and underground are not too different, Duncan was quoted as saying by CNN.
He said NASA has been asked by Chile to help provide nutritional and behavioral health support to the miners. "It's an opportunity to us to bring the space-flight experience back down to the ground," said Duncan.
Meanwhile, the 33 miners trapped inside a mine have been told for the first time that they could be stuck underground for as long as four months. Officials expect drilling on a rescue shaft, a process that workers have said could take four months to complete, to
begin this weekend.
Even under the best-case scenario, the trapped miners will be underground for quite some time -- posing a host of practical and psychological problems. The miners, trapped 2,300 feet below the surface, have been trying to keep their spirits -- and the spirits of their loved ones -- from flagging.
They sent a video message to their families on Thursday in which they expressed thanks for the efforts under way to free them and displayed occasional flashes of humour and patriotism.(Watch: Chilean miners message to their families)
Doctors have given the miners advice about how to keep their limited living space clean: Portions of a 1-meter-high, 40-meter-long shaft are being used as a latrine. It is connected to the main cabin, which is being used for sleeping, washing and praying.
The men's sole lifeline to the outside world is a tube approximately 8 centimeters in diameter, through which food, water, clothing, video and radio equipment and whatever else is needed are stuffed.
Chilean Health Minister Jaime Manalich said that, on average, each man has lost 10 kilogrammes since they became trapped three weeks ago, and dehydration remains a threat.
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