Space Medicine from Coursera

Have you ever wondered what it would take for humans to travel beyond the comforts of our home planet, Earth? You are invited to join us in Space Medicine - an online experience facilitated by two recent Duke graduates in which you will learn about and engage in the most pressing medical challenges facing NASA and others advancing the future of space exploration.

Space Medicine is a free, non-certificate course featuring interactive modules and weekly live discussions. Participants will reflect on questions pertinent to the future of human health in space, such as:

- How do humans respond to extreme environments?

- How can engineers, doctors, and scientific researchers come together to prevent space related health issues before they occur?

- If future generations of humans attempt to live in space, what challenges will they face?

- Which evolutionary adaptations to living on Earth are useful to surviving a months- or years-long voyage?

No prior experience in science or medicine is required, as life science concepts will be introduced as necessary. At the end of the course, you will have gained valuable experience in applying modern medicine to space-based situations, from space flight to journeying to Mars.

What's inside

Syllabus

History of Medicine and Aviation

The field of space medicine arose from aerospace medicine in the mid 20th century. Owing the heritages of space and medicine, we will want to look back in history to find how these two disciplines came together. Along the way we will talk about case studies, which punctuate each week of the course, look at the role of flight medicine, before turning to the environment of space. Space is an inhospitable place, but venturing beyond Earth is not hopeless. Already some organisms have overcome problems posed by lack of air, freezing temperatures, and radiation. Space medicine is all about meeting these challenges and preventing problems before they occur in our final frontier.

Out of Thin Air

A commonly understood fact is that breathing is difficult at high elevations because of the thin air. However, the meanings behind “hard to breathe” and “thin air” are often hidden or under-appreciated. Informed by a hot balloon incident from the 1800s, we will ask why oxygen is so important for the human body and appreciate how our hearts, lungs, and blood is essential for sustaining life. Then we will look at what happens when these processes break down including medical signs and symptoms to answer what happened hundreds of years ago. Finally, we will look at countermeasures and ways that humans overcome the threat of hypoxia in aerospace and space travel.

The Price of Leaving

Scuba divers know that the end of the dive can be the most dangerous because bubbles can form causing terrible damage. Decompression Sickness was first understood in French coal miners but plays a crucial role in aerospace applications. The space environment involves moving between pressure gradients which brings these risks front and center. The other concern with different pressure gradients is hyperoxia where too much oxygen can also cause trouble. The artificial atmospheres onboard the International Space Station and in space suits must be tightly controlled to avoid these issues.

Extremes of Acceleration

Aircraft causalities almost always end with a crash. Crashes are a form of acceleration where a moving plane comes to a rapid stop causing massive trauma for the pilot and passenger. Acceleration from high speed turns, maneuvers, and lift-off can contribute to pilots passing out and losing control of their craft. We fight against these G-Forces with blood pressure in the hopes of avoiding these Losses of Consciousness and Trauma.

Breaking Points

Once we leave Earth, we lose so many of the protections that keep us safe. With the strong presence of Earth's gravity, our eyesight begins to fade, our bones start to crumble, and our muscles will atrophy. The atmosphere and magnetosphere shield us from solar radiation and we leave behind most of our social connections on board a spaceship. To survive a journey to Mars, Space Doctors will need to be in constant communication with astronauts and plan the mission knowing these risks. The journey may be perilous but we can engineer solutions to persevere and overcome.

Martian Medicine

Should astronauts prevent all of the issues needed for a trip to the Red Planet, there will be new health concerns to live on Mars. This week is especially theoretical as we look into engineering and medical designs to survive in an incredibly limited environment. Scarce resources also pose ethical concerns as some equipment may need to be left behind at the start of a mission and a Martian parasite could risk the extinction of the human race. However, like every issue throughout this course, once we've identified an issue, we can overcome it! We leave you, asking, "Do you have what it takes to be an astronaut?"

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches the fundamentals of space medicine, a growing field at the intersection of medicine and aerospace science

Examines the challenges astronauts face in space, such as extreme environments, radiation, and psychological stress

Provides insights into the research and development of technologies to support human space travel and habitation

Taught by experts in space medicine and engineering from Duke University

Offers interactive modules and weekly live discussions to facilitate engagement and learning

Suitable for individuals with no prior experience in science or medicine, as foundational concepts will be covered

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Space Medicine with these activities:

Take Space Medicine Quizzes

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Test your understanding of the course content

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Create flashcards or use an online quizzing platform
Test yourself on key terms, concepts, and case studies
Review your mistakes and focus on areas where you need improvement

Read Textbooks for the course

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Introduce core concepts learned in class

View Fundamentals of Aerospace Medicine on Amazon

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Read the textbooks before the class
Look for extra details about concepts introduced in class

Explore NASA's Space Medicine Resources

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Provide you with access to the latest information

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Visit the NASA Space Medicine website
Review the Human Research Program website
Explore the Space Medicine and Life Sciences website
Read articles and watch videos on space medicine topics
Participate in online forums and discussions

Five other activities

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Create a Glossary of Space Medical Terms

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Help you learn common terms used in aerospace medical field

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Review the course materials and other resources
Identify key terms related to space medicine
Define each term clearly and succinctly
Organize the terms alphabetically or by category
Share your glossary with classmates or online forums

Join a Space Medicine Study Group

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Allow you to discuss course material with peers

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Connect with other students in your class or online
Establish a regular meeting time and place
Review course materials together
Discuss key concepts and case studies
Quiz each other and provide feedback

Attend a Space Medicine Workshop or Conference

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Provide you with opportunities to network with professionals

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Research upcoming space medicine workshops and conferences
Submit an abstract or register to attend
Attend the event and participate in presentations and discussions
Network with experts in the field
Follow up with any connections you make

Develop a Space Medicine Research Proposal

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Enable you to apply your knowledge to a real-world problem

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Identify a research topic that interests you
Develop a research question and hypothesis
Design a research plan, including methodology and data analysis
Write a research proposal and share it with your classmates for feedback
Consider submitting your proposal to a space medicine journal or conference

Contribute to Open-Source Space Medicine Projects

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Gain practical experience and make a meaningful contribution

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Identify open-source space medicine projects on platforms like GitHub
Review the project documentation and codebase
Contribute code, documentation, or other improvements to the project
Collaborate with other contributors and learn from their expertise
Showcase your contributions in your resume or portfolio

Career center

Learners who complete Space Medicine will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Flight Surgeon

This course provides an overview of the medical challenges of space travel, which may be useful for aspiring Flight Surgeons. Flight Surgeons are responsible for the medical care of astronauts, and they must be prepared to treat a wide range of medical conditions in a challenging environment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Flight Surgeon

NASA Astronaut

This course provides an overview of the medical challenges of space travel, which may be useful for aspiring NASA Astronauts. NASA Astronauts must be prepared to face a variety of medical challenges in space, including the effects of microgravity, radiation, and isolation.

See salaries and explore the career path for NASA Astronaut

Astronaut

Astronauts must be prepared to face a variety of medical challenges in space, including the effects of microgravity, radiation, and isolation. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the medical challenges of space travel, which may be useful for aspiring astronauts.

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Research Scientist

Research Scientists conduct research to advance scientific knowledge. This course provides an overview of the medical challenges of space travel, which may be useful for Research Scientists who are interested in conducting research in this field.

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Anesthesiologist

Space medicine deals with the medical challenges of space travel, which include the effects of extreme environments, such as microgravity and radiation, on the human body. Anesthesiologists have a detailed understanding of the human body's response to extreme environments, which may make them well-suited for careers in space medicine.

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Emergency Physician

Emergency Physicians must be prepared to treat a wide range of medical conditions, including those that may be unique to space travel. This course provides an overview of the medical challenges of space travel, which may be useful for Emergency Physicians who are interested in working in the space industry.

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Cardiologist

Research in space medicine has shown that space travel causes significant changes to the heart and cardiovascular system. Cardiologists who are interested in studying the effects of space travel on the human body may find this course useful.

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Radiation Oncologist

Radiation Oncologists specialize in the treatment of cancer using radiation therapy. This course provides an overview of the medical challenges of space travel, including the effects of radiation on the human body. This knowledge may be useful for Radiation Oncologists who are interested in working in the space industry.

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Occupational Health Physician

Occupational Health Physicians are responsible for the health and safety of workers in a variety of industries, including the space industry. This course provides an overview of the medical challenges of space travel, which may be useful for Occupational Health Physicians who are interested in working in the space industry.

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Hyperbaric Physician

Hyperbaric Physicians specialize in the treatment of conditions that are caused by changes in pressure, such as decompression sickness. This course provides an overview of the medical challenges of space travel, including the effects of changes in pressure on the human body. This knowledge may be useful for Hyperbaric Physicians who are interested in working in the space industry.

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Physician Assistant - Gastroenterology

Research in space medicine has shown that space travel causes significant changes to the gastrointestinal system. Physician Assistants who are interested in working in space medicine may find this course useful, as it provides an overview of the medical challenges of space travel.

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Biomedical Engineer

Biomedical Engineers design and develop medical devices and systems. This course provides an overview of the medical challenges of space travel, which may be useful for Biomedical Engineers who are interested in developing technologies to address these challenges.

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Spacecraft Operator

Spacecraft Operators control and monitor spacecraft from Earth. This course provides an overview of the medical challenges of space travel, which may be useful for Spacecraft Operators who are interested in working in the space industry.

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Registered Nurse

Registered Nurses provide nursing care to patients in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. This course provides an overview of the medical challenges of space travel, which may be useful for Registered Nurses who are interested in working in the space industry.

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Airline Transport Pilot

The field of space medicine is an offshoot of aerospace medicine, which deals with the medical challenges of air travel. As such, an Airline Transport Pilot may benefit from a general understanding of the physiological challenges of high altitude and other extreme environments, as covered in this course.

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