The improvements we make so humans can function in space translate into ways of improving human life on Earth. Dr. Anna Fogtman, a biologist, scientist and space medicine specialist, spoke to PAP, the Polish Press Agency, about examples of such practical applications.
At the European Space Agency (ESA), Anna Fogtman is responsible for the operational protection of astronauts from cosmic radiation.
PAP: Why are people so drawn to space?
Anna Fogtman: Probably because they hope to discover a different, more interesting perspective. What attracts me to crewed spaceflight is the complexity of the problem. I come from an academic background, from the world of science, where solving problems is an everyday thing. And this problem – how to safely send a human being into space – is very interesting.
Scientific research and the development of space technologies are a powerful engine of progress. They allow us to better understand how the human body functions and to develop solutions that let people live and work safely in the extraordinary, yet hostile, environment of outer space.
Beyond that, the exploration of worlds beyond Earth has a metaphysical dimension. It is very inspiring and fires the imagination. It gives you the sense that you are doing something exceptional, something most people don’t have access to.
PAP: How does the knowledge we gain by flying into space translate into our lives on Earth?
A.F.: First, the body of a person who goes through the stress of spaceflight changes a great deal. We learn what the limits of the human body are in a physiological sense, and what our endurance is. There are many analogies between weightlessness and situations we know, for example, from hospitals on Earth. The effect of microgravity on the human body causes changes similar to those experienced by bedridden patients after weeks of lying in bed. This allows us to deepen our knowledge about the human body, about how it adapts to various environmental changes, and how to prevent the negative consequences of those changes.
On the other hand, the improvements we make so humans can function in space translate into ways of improving human life on Earth. This knowledge is used, for example, in life support systems, in water recycling, and in helping people in environments or regions that are hard to reach, such as deserts or disaster-stricken areas.
Space technologies are really changing life on Earth. One example is medical equipment designed for orbit – it has to be light, mobile, resistant to extreme conditions and equipped with advanced telemetry. We are also developing these solutions with a view to effectively helping people in the hardest-to-reach places on our planet.
Third, space research brings us benefits on two levels. On one hand, it helps answer fundamental questions about the origin and evolution of the universe. On the other – it provides knowledge and tools that allow us to better understand processes taking place on Earth. For example, observation satellites allow us to monitor climate change, track the development of droughts, observe the extent of floods or assess their effects. And these are just a few examples of the practical applications of space technologies in our daily lives.
PAP: Your job is to protect astronauts’ health from the harmful effects of cosmic radiation – both on the International Space Station (ISS) and during future deep-space missions. What has to be done so that a person can safely fly into space and return in good health?
A.F.: First, we select the right physiological profiles – that is, people who, in addition to having the right intellectual competencies and education to work in space, are also healthier than the average population. The space environment generates a number of serious challenges for the human body and exposes all of its weaknesses. Only a strong and healthy body is able to cope with the threats that a space mission brings.
The next step is preparation. Candidates for spaceflight go through very rigorous training in the design of the spacecraft and in what will happen to their bodies, but also in practical skills, such as how to move during a spacewalk. Only with this background of knowledge and experience can they be sent on a mission. In orbit, complicated scientific and technological tasks await them, but also the prosaic everyday routine, such as cleaning and repairing onboard systems, including toilets.
To create an environment in this vacuum in which one can live, they need, among other things, life support systems, water recovery, air generation and temperature control. And although we try to do everything to prevent illness and damage to health, an astronaut’s body is strained, and the body does not remain indifferent to it.
Basically everything changes: for example, the circulatory system adapts to the conditions of microgravity. On Earth, the heart has to work against the force of gravity to ensure an adequate flow of blood to the brain. In space, this task becomes easier, and blood and other bodily fluids shift toward the upper part of the body. The body gradually adapts to this, among other things by reducing blood volume.
After returning to Earth, the circulatory system therefore has to relearn how to function under gravity. That is why some astronauts experience drops in blood pressure when standing up, dizziness and even fainting after landing. Add to that muscle weakness and loss of bone mass, which is why after longer missions astronauts undergo appropriately planned rehabilitation.
PAP: Are there any changes that don’t reverse after a stay in space? What do we know about long-term health effects?
A.F.: Troubling changes can also occur in space in the structure of the eyeball and the optic nerve. We call this phenomenon spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome, or SANS. Among other things, it can lead to swelling of the optic disc, flattening of the back of the eyeball and a decline in visual acuity. We know that the risk of these changes increases with the length of the mission, but we are still studying their mechanisms and long-term consequences. That is why we regularly monitor astronauts’ eyesight and look for effective ways to prevent these changes.
Exposure to ionizing radiation is also of great importance. Its effects are not visible immediately – they can be delayed and may show up as cancer only many years after the end of a mission.
That is why it is so important to limit the radiation doses astronauts receive over their entire careers. Good health before a mission is of course important, but it does not protect against the biological effects of irradiation. The risk depends, among other things, on the dose received, the astronaut’s age and the individual sensitivity of the body to radiation.
PAP: How long does one have to prepare before being able to fly into space?
A.F.: After the selection period, so-called basic training lasts about a year. During it, astronauts learn the design of the space station and acquire language skills – for example, if they don’t speak Russian, then under the rules of the International Space Station program they learn Russian.
After being assigned to a specific mission, astronauts begin specialized preparations in which they acquire and hone the skills needed to carry out the planned tasks. For long-duration missions on the International Space Station, such training usually lasts from a year and a half to two years, although its length depends on the nature of the mission, the astronaut’s experience and the scope of the duties assigned to them.
Astronauts practice, among other things, operating the systems of the spacecraft and the space station, emergency procedures and carrying out scientific experiments. If a spacewalk is planned, they also prepare for it in NASA’s special training pool, called the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. In conditions close to weightlessness, they practice specific tasks they may perform during a spacewalk, such as installing new equipment, replacing structural elements or repairing devices on the outside of the station.
All the training is interspersed with medical examinations, which spaceflight candidates undergo many times. All of this takes many months.
PAP: How did you become interested in this field, and from your perspective, what does the role of women in the space sector look like today?
A.F.: I ended up here because I had been interested in this subject for a very long time, and crewed spaceflight was a source of inspiration for me, even though I knew little about it. For a very long time I didn’t realize that there could be a place there for someone like me. Earlier, I wasn’t even aware that a field like space medicine existed – and it is, after all, an extremely interdisciplinary area.
When I saw a recruitment notice at the European Space Agency, I decided to try. I went through a demanding selection process in which candidates from all over Europe took part, and I ultimately received an offer to work together.
As for the role of women, I see many positive changes, but also challenges that I already knew well from earlier stages of my academic career. I have the impression that women are still sometimes judged by slightly different standards, and their mistakes are sometimes noticed more than similar slip-ups by men. Of course, this is not a rule or the experience of every woman, but such mechanisms can still be observed.
I also think informal networks of contacts and mutual support matter a great deal. People naturally more often surround themselves with those they can easily identify with, who have similar experiences or ways of thinking. In male-dominated environments, this can unconsciously lead to situations in which it is harder for women to get their ideas across, speak up in a discussion or gain the same visibility. There doesn’t have to be ill will behind it, but the consequences can be very real.
That is why I think it is so important to deliberately create a space in which everyone has a chance to be heard and appreciated for their competence. Mentoring and mutual support also play a huge role here. I know myself how much it can change things to have someone who notices our potential and gives us a chance.
PAP: Did the flight of a Pole to the International Space Station really strengthen our position in the global space business?
A.F.: Definitely! I think the IGNIS mission was a very important step for the development of the Polish space sector. One of its greatest values was that it enabled Polish companies and scientific teams to conduct their own experiments aboard the International Space Station. It is a unique opportunity, not only to test technology in real spaceflight conditions, but also to gain experience in preparing and carrying out such projects.
In the space industry, so-called flight heritage is hugely important – that is, documented experience of using a given technology in outer space. It is an important argument in talks with potential partners and customers, and it can increase the competitiveness of companies bidding for further contracts. Poland had already had achievements in this area, but the IGNIS mission made it possible to expand these competencies, especially in the area of experiments conducted aboard a crewed station.
I had the opportunity to take part in evaluating proposals for scientific and technological experiments submitted by teams from various countries. That experience reinforced my belief that Polish teams have very great potential and are able to propose high-level solutions. Not every such experiment has to lead to a groundbreaking scientific discovery. Often, testing a new technology, gaining competencies and building relationships that can lead to further projects is just as important. From this perspective, the IGNIS mission had a significance for Poland that went far beyond the astronaut’s flight itself.
I also think it is worth using the experience gained and considering further opportunities to carry out Polish experiments in orbit. During preparations for the mission, many interesting projects were submitted, and the limited time on the station and the available resources did not allow all of the proposals to be carried out. This potential is worth developing further.
The International Space Station is nearing the end of its operating life, currently planned for 2030. This means that opportunities to carry out further experiments aboard it are limited in time.
In the longer term, it will also be important to prepare the Polish sector to use new, commercial orbital stations. The most important thing, in my opinion, is that the experience gained during the IGNIS mission does not remain a one-off success but becomes the foundation for the further, systematic development of Poland’s space competencies.
PAP: What would you advise people who have just thought about applying for a job at a space agency?
First of all, I would encourage them to just try. For many years, I myself didn’t realize that with my education and experience I could find a place in the space sector.
The European Space Agency has its own careers website, where job offers appear regularly, including for people at the beginning of their professional path. But it is worth knowing that direct employment at ESA is not the only option. A great many specialists work on the agency’s projects as employees of outside companies that provide services to it or carry out space contracts. I, too, began my adventure with ESA as an employee of an outside entity. It is a good way to gain experience and get to know the sector from the inside.
So it is worth following not only ESA’s job offers but also the announcements of companies that work with the agency. There are also internship programs, research fellowships and other opportunities for cooperation for scientists and young professionals.
And above all, one should not assume that the space sector is reserved exclusively for engineers and programmers. Of course, technical competencies play a huge role in it, but such complex undertakings require people representing very different fields.
So my advice is simple: don’t disqualify yourselves before you’ve even tried. Sometimes the hardest thing is simply to imagine that there can be room for us in such a place, too.
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Anna Fogtman took part in the 2nd National Conference on Space Medicine, held Nov. 5-6 at the Medical University of Gdańsk. She is also the author of the newly published book “Ponad błękit” (“Above the Blue”), about the people, technology and procedures that make it possible for us to fly into space.
Interviewed by Monika Grzegorowska (PAP)
The full interview was published in PAP’s Health Service.
