A group of 21 budding space medicine experts gathered at ESA’s astronaut centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany, in November for two days of inspiration and education as part of the 2018 Space Physicians Training Course.

The majority of participants were international medical doctors studying towards a Diploma in Aviation Medicine at King’s College London, UK, but were complemented by individuals practising in France and the Netherlands. All were eager to learn more about space medicine, as well as developments, opportunities and challenges for the future of long duration spaceflight.

ESA’s space medicine team plays a vital role in astronaut selection, developing preventative programmes, providing medical training, and ensuring astronaut health and wellbeing before, during and after their missions.

Course participants heard from ESA flight surgeons, biomedical engineers and countermeasure experts who shared their experiences at the EAC, as well as strategies to support astronaut health on missions to the International Space Station and beyond.

As part of the course participants were also shown ESA’s medical operations console, the EAC training hall and the flight clinic facilities of the German Aerospace Centre (DLR).