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REVIEW article

Front. Space Technol.
Sec. Space Exploration
Volume 5 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/frspt.2024.1423138
This article is part of the Research Topic Innovation in Medical Space Technology View all 6 articles

Virtual medical astronaut avatars for future deep space missions

Provisionally accepted
Carole Urlings Carole Urlings Bjorn Baselet Bjorn Baselet *Kevin Tabury Kevin Tabury Sarah Baatout Sarah Baatout
  • Laboratory for Radiobiology, Belgian Nuclear Research Center (SCK•CEN), Mol, Belgium

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    This paper explores the telemedicine possibilities available to astronauts during spaceflight, focusing on the possible utilization of medical avatars for continuous health monitoring. Various types and sources of telemedicine are examined, along with their applications in deep space travel to address the challenges faced by astronauts and facilitate timely intervention in case of injuries and illnesses. The use of medical avatars presents a promising solution to mitigate risks and ensure effective healthcare delivery in the absence of immediate physical medical support. Furthermore, potential terrestrial applications of telemedicine and virtual medical avatars are discussed, highlighting the wider implications and benefits beyond space exploration. By leveraging advanced technologies and innovative approaches, telemedicine in conjunction with medical avatars offers a compelling avenue for enhancing healthcare practices both in space and on Earth.

    Keywords: medical, virtual, space, Avatar, Digital Twin, Telemedicine

    Received: 25 Apr 2024; Accepted: 27 Sep 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Urlings, Baselet, Tabury and Baatout. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Bjorn Baselet, Laboratory for Radiobiology, Belgian Nuclear Research Center (SCK•CEN), Mol, Belgium

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.