Me in the ESA Columbus Module Mockup

Yesterday (Feb 21) I gave a presentation at the ESA European Astronaut Center in Cologne, Germany on using ultrasound for spaceflight imaging of the spine. I was mostly talking to the students in the King’s College London Space Physiology & Health Masters Program. As part of their year-long program the students, about 9 every year, travel to the EAC to learn about operational space medicine in Europe. The goal of the program is to produce Biomedical Engineers conversant in space medicine who can then go off to work in commercial space or in their local space program. If they can’t find jobs in human spaceflight then the program also prepares them to work in a physiology lab. It seems like a very robust degree program, and also an indication that commercial human spaceflight is drawing enough interest that students are willing to spend tuition and time to be prepared to work in the industry. And, if I can go by the types of questions I was asked after my presentation, the students and faculty are well prepared.