For decades, space exploration was designed around male bodies and basic questions about women’s health were under-researched, including how menstruation is affected by microgravity.
That is starting to change. Our health correspondent Ester Pinheiro spoke with scientist Lígia Coelho, who is leading research testing menstrual cups in orbit through the AstroCup project, using miniature sensors to generate data on physiology during long-duration missions.
Astronaut and physician Shawna Pandya has argued that studying women’s health in space can also strengthen women’s health outcomes on Earth. She is also advocating for this research to be tested in real spaceflight conditions.
Expanding space medicine beyond a male default isn’t just about inclusion, it determines who can participate in future missions, and what kinds of science get done.
#WomenInSTEM #SpaceMedicine #MenstrualHealth
