Astronauts should be taught how to print out 3D medical equipment as missions get longer, with greater risk of health emergencies, experts say.

Intensive care doctors called for extra training for those embarking on space voyages, to cope with the unusual challenges of microgravity and limited storage room.

Astronauts should be told how to print out their own medical equipment, on demand, experts will tell a conference today.

And those preparing to go on such missions should be told how to perform livesaving techniques in a situation of microgravity, when it is not possible to use body weight in the same way.