Abstract
In this chapter, highlights of human spaceflight are summarized achieved in the frame of the microgravity programs funded by the European Space Agency ESA and/or the German Space Agency DLR. After describing the historical context, thereby stressing the importance of cooperation with the USA and the Soviet Union/Russia especially in the ISS era, specific programmatic aspects in Europe are briefly explained. The major part of the chapter provides examples for scientific accomplishments and discoveries in space biology and medicine obtained over the last decades focusing on a completely new view on hypertension established by space and accompanying ground-based research. The last part of the chapter describes important technological developments in the area of noninvasive medical diagnostics, therapy, and rehabilitation. Impressive examples demonstrate the successful transfer of devices and methods developed for space life sciences into the commercial market for the benefit of people on Earth especially in the aging society.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Braun M, Böhmer M, Häder D-P, Hemmersbach R, Palme K (2018) Gravitational biology I: Gravity sensing and graviorientation in microorganisms and plants. Springer Briefs in Space Life Sciences (Ruyters G, Braun M, eds.). Springer International Publishing
Choukèr A (2012) Stress challenges and immunity in space. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg
Choukèr A, Ullrich O (2016) The immune system in space: Are we prepared? Springer Briefs in Space Life Sciences (Ruyters G, Braun M, eds.). Springer International Publishing
Gerzer R (2014) Salt balance: from space experiments to revolutionizing new clinical concepts on earth – a historical review. Acta Astronautica 104:378–382
Heer M, Titze J, Smith S M, Baecker N (2015) Nutrition, physiology, and metabolism in spaceflight and analog studies. Springer Briefs in Space Life Sciences (Ruyters G, Braun M, eds.). Springer Cham
Ruyters G, Braun M, Stang K (2021, in press) Breakthroughs in space life sciences – from Apollo 16 to the ISS. Springer Briefs in Space Life Sciences (Ruyters G, Braun M, eds.). Springer International Publishing
Ruyters G, Braun M (2014) Plant biology in space. In: Plant biology 16, Suppl. 1
Seibert G (2001) A world without gravity. ESA SP 1251, Noordwijk
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Ruyters, G. (2020). Highlights of Human Spaceflight in Europe: ESA and DLR. In: Young, L.R., Sutton, J.P. (eds) Handbook of Bioastronautics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10152-1_70-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10152-1_70-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-10152-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-10152-1
eBook Packages: Springer Reference EngineeringReference Module Computer Science and Engineering