Professor Simon Evetts, R&D Director at Blue Abyss, will represent the company and lead the UK delegation of a bilateral meeting at NASA’s Human Research Program (HRP) Investigators Workshop (IWS) in Galveston, Texas. The meeting is hosted by HRP IWS (January 28–31, 2025), an annual event convened for leading researchers to share findings and tackle the challenges of maintaining human health during space exploration.

The bilateral roundtable meeting, sponsored by the British Consulate (Houston) and the UK Space Agency, organised in collaboration with Dr Judith Hayes, PhD, MPH, Chief Scientist of NASA’s Human Health and Performance Directorate, will bring together around 30 leading scientists, physicians, and industry experts from both nations. The discussions will focus on how to better prepare for the physiological challenges of spaceflight on common health conditions expected to be prevalent in members of the general public travelling to space; a topic of growing significance as commercial spaceflight becomes increasingly accessible.

This bilateral, which runs alongside the HRP Investigators Workshop, reflects the growing need for international collaboration to more efficiently and effectively prepare regular people for spaceflight. The research and preparatory programmes that need to be established aim to decrease risks to health and increase performance and enjoyment when in Space. By facilitating dialogue between UK and US experts, the event aims to identify opportunities for scientific collaboration and innovation that could benefit both space and terrestrial healthcare.

Knowledge and Networking

Although the roundtable is a primary focus for the delegation, the week will also include tours of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, providing participants with the opportunity to explore cutting-edge facilities such as NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, Mission Control Center, Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility, and the Human Health and Performance Laboratory. There will also be opportunities to visit key local commercial space companies, offering valuable networking, and enabling engagement between industry leaders and commercial space companies to foster innovation and identify potential partnerships.

Terrestrial Applications

Lessons learned from studying the effects of space travel also hold significant potential for terrestrial applications. Insights into mobility, physiology, and psychological resilience can inform treatments for conditions affecting millions of people on Earth. Blue Abyss’s expertise in human spaceflight and applied space medicine positions it at the vanguard of this vital intersection.

Professor Evetts’ participation in this bilateral meeting underscores the company’s dedication to enabling humanity to thrive in extreme environments, ‘from Subsea to Space’. By building partnerships and enabling innovative research, Blue Abyss continues to position itself to help shape the future of human spaceflight, while ensuring that the benefits of space research improve everyday lives as well.

Are you preparing humans for spaceflight, interested in human physiology in extreme environments, or the terrestrial applications?

Blue Abyss specialises in designing, developing, and implementing selection, training, and operational readiness programmes for spaceflight. The organisation’s expertise also extends to applying these principles here on Earth to enhance performance and resilience in challenging environments, and providing subject matter experts to support education programmes focused on extreme environments.

Contact Blue Abyss to support your goals and help prepare for the next frontier.