The Body in Space: Thriving Beyond Earth’s Limits
The human body is a marvel of evolution, shaped by millennia to suit the diverse climates and conditions of the Earth. People can run marathons, scale Mt. Everest, and swim across the English Channel. But what happens to this delicate, dazzling machine when it departs the surface of the Earth and enters the low- and no-gravity environments of interplanetary space? How can we preserve the function, health, and longevity of those traveling between planets—or even one day venturing beyond, toward the stars
During the April 2025 MIT Alumni Forum, Dr. Lonnie Petersen, the Samuel A. Goldblith Career Development Professor of Applied Biology, shared her research into these questions and more. As a medical doctor and engineer, Petersen is a leading expert on developing devices and strategies that support human health during long-term spaceflight. Watch the video and learn how Dr. Petersen is helping us prepare for a multiplanetary future for all humankind.
FEATURED SPEAKERS
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Lonnie Petersen, MD
Samuel A. Goldblith Career Development Professor of Applied Biology
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Thomas Heldt PhD '04 (Moderator)
Associate Director, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science; Associate Professor of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering Principal Investigator, Research Laboratory of Electronics
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Explore research at the Petersen Lab focused on advancing space medicine through collaboration among physicians, engineers, and students.
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Find out about Project MADMEN, where two MIT students simulated life on Mars during a two-week mission at the Mars Desert Research Station.