French space agency has begun developing a medical facility for lunar and Martian bases
French space agency CNES has announced the development of a medical imaging system to support space station operations and future manned missions to the Moon and Mars. The project, called Multimodal Imaging for Space Exploration, is the latest initiative in the Spaceship FR program launched in 2018 to develop key technologies for future manned missions.
One of the most advanced Spaceship FR projects is the European Intrinsic Space Suit, being developed in collaboration with Spartan Space, the Institute of Space Medicine and Physiology and Decathlon. CNES plans to test an early prototype of the spacesuit on the ISS by 2027.
The new Multimodal Imaging for Space Exploration project aims to create a modular medical facility for future manned bases on the Moon and Mars. The main component of the Medipod will be a multimodal imaging system designed for diagnostic purposes and possibly interventions.
CNES has outlined four major goals for the study, which will run from 2024 through 2026. The first goal is to assess the current state of medical imaging and special needs for long-term research missions. Next, the study will establish requirements for adapting imaging tools to space environments, including radiation, microgravity, and confined space. The third goal focuses on an architectural study of a multimodal imaging system adapted for space applications, followed by a final phase that will outline a roadmap for system development.