About this Session:
When we think about space, we imagine rockets, exploration, and adventure. But what happens to the human body in orbit isn’t just fascinating, it’s deeply relevant to our health on Earth. At the European Space Agency, astronaut health isn’t just a matter of keeping crews safe; it’s a launchpad for scientific discovery. From radiation exposure to the effects of (micro)gravity on human tissues, space offers a unique testbed to better understand the human body - both in orbit and on Earth. In this main stage session, Maybritt Kuypers, Senior Flight Surgeon at the European Space Agency, takes us into space and to the frontier of space medicine. She’ll explore how studying astronauts helps us advance and accelerate knowledge around radiation and gravity’s impact on biological systems - insights with direct relevance to ageing, cancer radiation treatments, and occupational exposure risks here on Earth. Join us for a journey beyond the atmosphere - and discover how space is fast becoming a new frontier for health innovation.