We discussed the practical challenges and the promise that such technological developments could hold for both the space sector and civil society.
On February 27, H.E. Mr. Angus Campbell, accompanied by Ms. Sarah McIntyre, visited YURI MICROGRAVITY Luxembourg, located in Esch-Belval at the Technoport. A close-knit working meeting facilitated direct and productive discussions.
CREACTION was invited to attend. Based on presentations of current activities, particularly regarding technology transfer between YURI and USIL THERAPEUTICS, we discussed the practical challenges and the promise that such technological developments could hold for both the space sector and civil society. In this specific case, the goal is to develop a new drug under space conditions—specifically in microgravity—within a “Space Scientific Shell.” All of this must be achieved under acceptable financial conditions (cost-efficiency)! For the YURI-USIL partnership, supported by ESA and LSA through the technology transfer programme, the task is nothing less than designing mission-specific protocols, developing and adapting ad hoc instruments for testing, managing in-orbit tests with constant monitoring from Earth, and ultimately retrieving the samples to study their concrete impacts on physical specimens.
For USIL THERAPEUTICS, there is no better laboratory than space for studying the effects of ionizing radiation on human cells—and thus on our health: it provides exposure to cosmic and solar radiation, which is one of the main risks faced by astronauts. And USIL is indeed aligned with current space research, which aims to develop future medications and/or protective strategies (radioprotectants) to limit the effects of radiation on the human body, in preparation for safe space exploration. Australia and its research centres are also interested in such developments...
The transfer of space technology is of interest to the nuclear sector; space research is grappling with these issues, so the terrestrial applications are promising. And then, as we say at CREACTION, when all is said and done, when it comes to the nuclear sector, aren’t we ourselves children of the Sun?
