To be able to see the planet Earth in its entirety, we need to travel to microgravity for 8 minutes and 48 seconds, but this is the most demanding of journeys. When we return, we spend days suffering from the side effects, vomiting, nausea and cold sweats "because there is no up or down, right or left, and the face and torso almost burst with the swelling caused by the rise in body fluids," said Professor Edson Oliveira, in an interview with the newspaper Expresso, adding that, "in the environment without gravity, all systems suffer alterations. Muscle atrophy and consequent osteoporosis, a degenerative process in the spine, changes in heart rhythm and the ability to maintain blood pressure, a progressive decrease in visual acuity, among others."
The Center for Aerospace Medicine Studies (CEMA), the first in Portugal, was created with the aim of studying these effects and preparing astronauts for these situations. Today, Lisbon School of Medicine (FMUL) inaugurated CEMA.
CEMA is run by Fausto J. Pinto, Director of FMUL, under the joint coordination of FMUL Professors Edson Oliveira (neurosurgeon) and Thais Russomano (aerospace doctor).
"Space is a very particular medium, it's arousing interest," said Professor Fausto Pinto in his opening speech on Aerospace Medicine Day.
This celebration, broadcast live on FMUL's YouTube channel, was attended by the Rector of the University of Lisbon, Professor Luís Ferreira. The President of the Portuguese Republic, who was unable to attend due to scheduling constraints, left a congratulatory video.
Guillaume Weerts, head of space medicine at the European Space Agency (ESA), presented the lecture Medical Challenges of Space Exploration.
This was followed by the round table discussion "The Challenges of Aerospace Medicine in Portugal", moderated by Fausto J. Pinto, which was attended by Ricardo Conde (President of Portugal Space), "are we alone or do we also have a more commercial view of space itself?"; "the Universe is a big machine (...) the astronaut is a physicist, a mechanic, a cook, an engineer and a doctor, machine learning will make everything easier", he mentioned.
According to the Director of the Aeronautical Medicine Center of the Portuguese Air Force, Dr. Marina Lopes, "we are closer to conquering space".
"Today the future begins," said Prof. Edson Oliveira, "the situation of the human body in orbit gives us a more real perspective of man on earth."
After the unveiling of the CEMA plaque, a collaboration protocol was signed with the Portuguese Space Agency - Space Portugal, with a view to collaborating in the training of aerospace medicine as well as promoting activities in this area.
More on this event in the next edition of News@FMUL.
