Benefits of space medicine for health

The International Space Station will enable permanent access to a well equipped manned space laboratory. European research in Life Sciences has already obtained significant scientific results in biology and physiology in the past. There are many examples of spin offs that have resulted from space research. Implemented more recently by ESA, the Microgravity Applications Programme allows healthcare professionals and industries to join integrated ground and space research projects with the final endeavour to develop the utilisation of space. Research in space medicine oriented towards applications in Health should become a major European objective for the International Space Station. Space medicine raises very important issues that are of more general interest in Health, as defined by World A few examples of possible Health Organisation. space medicine benefits to Health are: -the prevention of adverse effects of mechanical forces on the body, -the maintenance of physical and mental fitness by using appropriate pharmaceutical, physical, nutritional and psychological countermeasures, -the delivery of distant diagnostic and care procedures through advanced telemedicine. Space medicine will contribute to the improvement of preventive medicine which is of significant importance with the ageing of the population.