Effects of Microgravity on Human Health – Thais Russomanno

Abstract

The presence of gravity on Earth has had an integral effect on the development of life over billions of years and has shaped the anatomy and physiology of human beings. Exposure to microgravity has been shown to affect the whole body, causing numerous changes, such as a reduction in heart size and blood volume, disturbances of the neurological system, decreases in bone and muscle mass, and impairment of the immune function. These physiological changes can lead to undesirable health consequences and to operational difficulties, especially in emergency situations. This lecture is designed to raise awareness and understanding of humankind’s final frontier. It will give an overview of space missions of the past, present and future, and examine the physiological and psychological reactions of body and mind to the hostile environment of space. It will cover the countermeasures used during space missions, plans for space tourism, the return to the Moon and a first human trip to Mars. Consideration will be given to the health of astronauts during short- and long-term space flights, and the application of telehealth for low Earth orbit and deep space missions will also be discussed.

Biography

Prof. Thais Russomano, MD MSc PhD has +30 yr of experience in Aerospace Medicine, Space Physiology, Telemedicine & Digital Health. She is an MD from Brazil, specialised in internal medicine, has an MSc in Aerospace Medicine (USA) and PhD in Space Physiology from King’s College London (UK). She worked for 3 years as a researcher at DLR, Germany, before establishing and coordinating the Microgravity Centre, PUCRS-Brazil for 18 years. She is academically linked to several universities worldwide, is an Elected Academician of the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine, and the International Academy of Astronautics (Board of Trustees). Thais is a Board Member of companies, holds patents related to Space Sciences, has numerous scientific publications and has acted as a voluntary Mentor for Space4Women, an initiative of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. She participated in ESA parabolic flight campaigns (2000 & 2006), is a member of ESA Topical Teams and participates in NASA funded projects. In 2021, through InnovaSpace and in partnership with a pharmaceutical company, she participated in research at the ISS (Japanese Kibo module). Thais also cts as an educator, researcher and consultant in projects of ESA, NASA, DLR, PT Space, AEB-Brazil, InnovateUK, BlueAbyss, Optmal Cities UK, International Space University, Prog Oportunidades, El Salvador. Thais is co-founder & CEO of InnovaSpace (UK), a company dedicated to the education, research and innovation of human space exploration, aviation medicine and digital health applied to extreme environments.

Links

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