Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
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
Dr. Lonnie Petersen, Samuel A. Goldblith Career Development Professor of Applied Biology, is excited to share her research into these questions and more. As a medical doctor and engineer, she is a leading expert on developing devices and strategies to support human health during long-term spaceflight. During the next MIT Alumni Forum, learn how Dr. Petersen is helping us prepare for a multiplanetary future for all humankind.
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
Dr. Lonnie Petersen, Samuel A. Goldblith Career Development Professor of Applied Biology, is excited to share her research into these questions and more. As a medical doctor and engineer, she is a leading expert on developing devices and strategies to support human health during long-term spaceflight. During the next MIT Alumni Forum, learn how Dr. Petersen is helping us prepare for a multiplanetary future for all humankind.
