What if I told you that space exploration fuels advancements in medical technology that save lives every day?

Imagine this an astronaut, out in space orbiting many hundreds of miles above the surface of the earth, in the zero-gravity of Their mission? To boldly go where no one has been before, to extend the frontiers of mankind’s exploration, and to add on to the exploration frontiers of the universe. But wait; did you know that they were also here on our planet to assist in saving lives too? Space exploration, you probably would not immediately associate with health or even healthcare in general, but many of the devices and gadgets used in Space Explorer are actually used in medicine today, which is saving lives on a regular basis.

In fact, there wouldn’t have been point for space exploration if not for the fact that some modern day essential medical facilities may not be in existence at all. From imaging systems that are still cutting edge today for the Wright Patterson Air Force Base to the life saving surgical tools that can trace their origin directly back to space science, countless millions of lives have been enhanced. Now, you are probably wondering, how does travelling among the stars benefit people on this planet, in terms of saving lives? Now sit back and relax as we begins our journey to explore space healthcare and how space journey is benefiting modern medicine.

The Connection Between Space and Health

One might be asking oneself, “The occurrence these phenomena on such a vast distance from the Earth how can it affect the lives of the average citizen?” The answer lies in the improved realisation of how hard is living in space and how scientists have had to devise new ways of keeping astronauts healthy and safe.

Space is a harsh environment. Cosmonauts are exposed to environment such as microgravity, radiation, isolation, others that will considerably affect the body. In order to counter these difficulties, people have been forced to invent quite effective and unique technologies and practices for the astronaut’s safety as well as for the doctors who treat people on the planet Earth. But that is where the science is at – a number of the medical devises presently in use were first planned and created for space exploration.

MRI and CT Scans: From Space Imaging to Hospitals

The biggest area affected by space exploration in the field of medicine is the boosting of imaging mechanisms. As most of us would picture space as the beautiful images of planets stars and galaxies which have been depicted in our magazines and on our television screens. In order to achieve such stunning pictures, the NASA scientists engendered the most effective imaging systems. A high definition imaging technology first developed for the purpose of capturing concise images of space was later adopted in health care.

Two examples identified included: Doctors use today’s MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and CT (Computed Tomography) scans to diagnose diseases and injuries these spaces imaging systems are directly responsible for these gadgets. Thanks to such technologies, doctors can ‘open’ the human body without having to resort having to surgery and locate anything from tumours, to broken bones. They might not even exist today if it was not for the initiation of space exploration.

Robotic Surgery: Precision From Space

The use of space technology also extends to the operation theater where application has cared a great difference. This is a just like a motto to follow in space as timing and accuracy are critical. Whenever possible, astronauts must rely on robots to do their work perfect because in zero gravity conditions everything is more complicated. It is based on these same principals of robotic control that Medical surgeons have then implemented the use of robotics in surgeries hence the production of robotic surgical equipment’s.

Such a system is the da Vinci Surgical System, which enables the surgeon to operate with the view of magnified precision, flexibility and control, during complicated surgeries. One of the robotic technologies which implements NASA research doctors are using it to do less invasive surgery which results in less time for patient between the surgery and recovery. Operations that earlier needed big cuts and time for healing can be performed using many small incisions due to technology that the space travel development unveiled.

Telemedicine: A Lifesaver From Afar

Astronauts don’t have the possibility of going to a doctor’s when they have a bad day in space, for instance. That is why they depend on telemedicine—the capacity to study and treat patients without physically seeing them. Telemedicine has been actively employed in NASA for several decades accomplishing astronauts’ health control during their space missions and such experience has become the basis for the modern telehealth systems.

Now, telemedicine can give a doctor’s attention to those who live in rural areas or in times of crises that they can not go to the clinic or hospital. In the COVID-19 catastrophe, something known as telemedicine helped many people to get medical assistance without going out. This is even truer concerning telemedicine, an area where NASA has provided great early references for how we deliver healthcare in today’s world using technology.

Heart Health: Monitoring from Space to Earth

Cardiovascular diseases are among the main killers globally. This condition is best diagnosed and managed early. Strikingly, aerospace technology has aided in the development of technologies specific to heart health.

Astronaut’s heart changes remarkably while in space because of effects that come with absence of gravity. Evaluating the astronauts cardiovascular state became a paramount area of interest to the scientific community. One of the coolest things they invented for using it in space usage is detecting the heart overheating on Earth. Electronic devices that patients can wear and record motion, or heart rhythms, similar to tools that were made by NASA for mission travel.

These wearable heart monitors are now normal for individuals with a heart issue. They can help a doctor to identify an abnormal rhythm, evaluate the prognosis of a patient after a heart attack and secure valuable data which simply can help to save a life. Once again, space technology has penetrated into all aspects of our lives, and it is now easier for doctors to keep their patients safe for an essential treatment.

Artificial Limbs: Advanced Materials from Space Research

Space missions demand materials that are lightweight yet strong enough, and which can easily be fashioned into complex shapes owing to the conditions of the environment through which these vehicles will travel. Astronauts need special clothing and shoes and scientists have designed such clothing and shoes that are particularly for astronauts and for space travel Some of these materials even designed for space have been used to make artificial limbs that are much better than the earlier limbs.

For instance, the lightweight and high strength materials that we use in the manufacture of spacecraft are also present in the crafting of prosthetic limbs which are more comfortable to wear by the end user. They allow people who lost their limbs to move their legs or use their hands those extremities are fully functional, so such people can live fuller lives.

Even this kind of prosthetic limbs would not be as effective as it is now if the material science advancement that was necessitated by space exploration was not there.

Bone Density Research: Fighting Osteoporosis

Stepping further, it is necessary to note that in space, the astronauts lose bones significantly faster than they lose bones on earth, all because of the absence of gravity. To combat and know more about this phenomenon, the NASA has initiated research on bone health. The impact which emerged from this research is paramount in the management of Osteoporosis a disease that results in theing of the bones.

Previous work in astronauts at NASA has taught them a lot on how bone density is precipitated and how it can be tapered off. In this research, new drugs and therapies have been identified which allow student to prevent bone loss in patients with osteoporosis and thereby improve the living standard.

Water Filtration: Clean Water, Thanks to Space

Water is necessary in life and is even a requisite not only on earth, but in space too. NASA was forced to design complex water purification technologies for extended missions for space travelers to take water in the spacecraft unerringly. These similar filtration technologies are also employed to deliver safe drinking water to the people in different part of the world where the problem of safe water supply is an issue of paramount concern.

The systems created at NASA are so efficient they are now being adopted to use in the third world and other areas that have suffered disasters to filter water in a way that makes it safe for human consumption. Originally used to solve space problems, hydrology has now addressed some contemporary global water issues.

Dialysis Machines: Improving Kidney Health

CKD (Chronic kidney disease) is one of the most common ailments worldwide, and RRT especially dialysis is a crucial form of treating ESRD patients. Modern dialysis machines themselves, which remove and clean blood, took ideas from NASA’s water cleaning for astronaut usage.

Through the development of filtration systems that NASA requires for space travel, sufferers of kidney disease have also benefited from the improvements to this process and the dialysis machines.

Space Research and Mental Health: A New Frontier

Space exploration is also leaving its imprint in some of the lesser expected domains, one of them is mental health. Some of the conditions which astronauts are subjected to include; isolation, small environments, and spending long periods on space similar to conditions that humans are subjected to during lock down or when the country is under lockdown for instance during COVID 19 pandemic.

As for the purpose of assisting the astronauts, NASA and other space agencies are studying the problem of how a person’s psychological health can be maintained in such conditions. Those tools designed for treating mental health issues in space – including virtual reality, mindfulness training, and new forms of human interaction – are now being incorporated into solutions for people on the ground. These innovations can cope with those who have anxiety, depression, loneliness, or other disorders in more ordinary circumstances.

Therefore space exploration is also a service to physiques, but also offers insight into the endurance of the mind. With this development that generally happens in such extreme environments, the possibility of extending improvement in mental health care to planet Earth can be conceived.

The Future of Space Medicine

The possibility of space exploration is still growing today and the technology emerging now is paving way to further medical discoveries in the days to come soon. Even as orbital missions are still the domain of men and women in space suits and limited rocket travel off Earth, researchers are already on the drawing board sketching out just how astronauts will be kept well and healthy during long stays on the moon or mars. All of these innovations could revolutionize health care here on earth in the event of a positive outcome.

The potential for the development of medicine in space is enormous, starting with creating the capability for muscle and bone growth throughout a space mission and the ability to diagnose and treat diseases in space more effectively. Its hard to even begin to guess what new lifesaving technologies may stem from the next generations of space explorens.

The Bigger Picture: How Space Exploration Benefits Us All

Many people might think that space exploration is all about finding a new planet and new star, and is much more than that. This whole process is about an attempt to look for the solutions on the critical problems, to step across the existing lines and to find out, how is it possible to improve the quality of life on the Planet. This is where this work is also helpful to all of us since was boost to the advancement of the medical field through space exploration.

Future interplanetary missions will definitely discover even more opportunities for the practical use of space science in medicine. The next time you observe the stars in the night sky, let the information above remind you that more than satisfying human curiosity in space exploration, the work being done out there is with the view to saving people’s lives.

Final Thoughts

The exploration of outer space has been understood for many years as the sign of the achievement of human and curiosity. But apart from the exhilaration of finding new worlds out there, space science is already leaving its mark on the medical world. Today, health care have benefited from space research in more ways than one, From imaging that cannot compromise the sensitivity needed for doctors to diagnose certain diseases, to robotics that aid surgeons in operating on patients.

​Therefore, when you watch the next aired defocused story about a space mission you should remember that the work in progress is not only about space enablement but also about developing a better future for each inhabitant of the planet. 

Did you know that the medical field and space exploration are related? They are, and collectively are helping to save lives daily.