June 23, 2026 | 6:00–8:00 pm | Haus der Bildung(Mülheimer Platz 1, 53111 Bonn) – room change

Humans in space are not only a symbol of technical mastery – they are also a fascinating subject of medical research. The extreme environment of space profoundly affects the human body: muscle loss, bone density reduction, cardiovascular changes, and altered immune function all challenge science and research. Europe’s medical space research responds with innovative concepts and technologies.

This session presents key findings and projects in biomedical space research, both aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and at the DLR’s Envihab Research Center in Cologne, a world-leading center for space medicine. Studies on the body’s adaptation to microgravity will be discussed, as well as the development of new diagnostic methods, robotic assistance systems, and telemedicine applications.

At the same time, the focus returns to Earth: many of the insights gained in space have direct applications in healthcare – for example, in rehabilitation medicine, long-term isolation scenarios, or emergency care. Space medicine thus contributes not only to the future of humans in space but also to improving health on Earth.

The event is organized in cooperation with the German Space Agency, the Federation of German Industries (BDI), the German Armed Forces Space Command, the Society for Security Policy (GSP), the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), the research network “Security and Technology in Space” (SichTRaum), the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), the Bonn/Rhine-Sieg Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Bonn-Rhein-Sieg), the Bonn Adult Education Center (VHS Bonn), and the student association ASTRA.

Welcome:

Dr. Enrico Fels
Managing Director of the Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies (CASSIS)

Lecture followed by discussion:

Dr. Stefan Möstl
Research Associate at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in the field of Aerospace Medicine