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Fundamentals of Space Medicine pp 1–44Cite as

Introduction to Space Life Sciences

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Part of the book series: Space Technology Library ((SPTL,volume 23))

Abstract

This first chapter describes the hazards that the space environment poses to humans, and how spaceflight affects the human body (where we are). We will then review the historical context of human spaceflight (how we got there), and end with the challenges facing humans in space (where do we go from here) (Figure 1.1)

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Notes

  1. 1.

    In a February 2003 interview to the Chicago Tribune, a physics professor at the University of Maryland and a director at the American Physical Society, a professional organization of physicists, said: “The International Space Station is not exploration; it’s going in circles closer to the Earth than Baltimore is to New York”. He added: “It is the single greatest obstacle of continued exploration of the Solar System—it’s blocking just about everything”.

  2. 2.

    Provided that STS-133, Soyuz TMA-20, and STS-134 launch on time (these calculations were made on 13 October 2010).

  3. 3.

    About 2,700 individuals have successfully climbed to the top of Mount Everest since May 1953. As of 2009 about 4,100 ascents have been made. Over 216 people have died trying. About 440 individuals have completed expeditions to the North Pole or the South Pole since 1865 and 1908, respectively [Source: www.adventurestats.com].

  4. 4.

    The word “pilot” is derived from his name.

  5. 5.

    The Marquis d’Arlandes was born in my hometown, Anneyron, a small village in the south of France.

  6. 6.

    This was one reason why the earliest spacecraft were totally automatic, with no controls for a disoriented or “crazed” pilot to use independently.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Space University, Strasbourg, France

    Gilles Clément

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  1. Gilles Clément
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Correspondence to Gilles Clément .

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Clément, G. (2011). Introduction to Space Life Sciences. In: Fundamentals of Space Medicine. Space Technology Library, vol 23. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9905-4_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9905-4_1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-9904-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-9905-4

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