PRIMR24 Opening Session: The Next Frontier: Space Exploration Research

CLICK HERE to view captioning for this session! 

Opening General Session Descriptor: Space is all over the news with almost daily reports of sending humans into orbit and preparing for missions to the moon and Mars. However, space research is not limited to humans; animals have played a crucial role in our understanding of space environments. From fruit flies and mice to monkeys and even dogs, these creatures have been integral in studying the effects of microgravity, radiation, and other space-related factors on living organisms. Research involving these animals is critical to ensuring the physical and mental well-being of humans who venture into space, both when they leave Earth and upon their return. Additionally, these studies offer a rare opportunity to glean insights that can improve human health on Earth. This session will briefly examine the history of space research, including the contributions of human and non-human animal studies, and look ahead to future developments. We will focus on how these space findings can inform science and medicine on Earth and discuss some of the unique ethical challenges associated with research conducted in space and its potential subjects.