Mississauga doctor heads to International Space University program

Mississauga | Education | Health |

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Published July 11, 2023 at 11:41 am

mississauga doctor space
Mississauga's Dr. Farhan M. Asrar is seen with Canadian astronaut Col. Jeremy Hansen. Hansen is slated to become the first Canadian to go to the moon orbit.

A Mississauga doctor heads to Brazil this month to speak and organize events for the International Space University’s Space Studies Program.

Dr. Farhan Asrar, a Mississauga-based family doctor, is known for his interest in space medicine. He recently co-wrote a paper titled Outer space assets offer benefits to health care, looking at the more general aspects of the role space inventions play in health.

Currently, Asrar is a Trillium Health Partners doctor and researcher as well as an associate professor at the University of Toronto, cross-appointed with the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and adjunct faculty member with McMaster University.

And now Asrar is heading to Brazil this week to chair the Department of Human Performance in Space at the International Space University’s Space Studies Program. The International Space University is sponsored and supported by NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, ESA, UK Space Agency and others.

The Space Studies Program offers an intensive nine-week course held each year in different locations around the world from June to August.

This year in Brazil, the 35th annual Space Studies Program provides courses in all space disciplines, as well as hands-on education through workshops and professional visits. The curriculum is designed for professionals starting or changing direction in their space careers.

In his role as co-chair, Asrar is organizing workshops, lectures and events related to space medicine, space physiology and related areas. His co-chair is the chief science officer of NASA’s Human Health and Performance Directorate.

Subjects covered will include the risks of long-duration space flights, preparing for extreme environments and analog missions, and using sports medicine principles in space medicine.

Asrar will be working with the Canadian Space Agency’s flight surgeon, a NASA flight surgeon, other experts from NASA and space agencies from Europe.

And he will also give a lecture on space medicine.

Finally, he will organize events with Canadian astronaut Col. Jeremy Hansen who will speak about his preparations for a mission to the moon, and also with Canadian astronaut David Saint-jacques who will share his experiences about going to space and living and working in the extreme environment.

Hansen was recently selected to join Artemis II on a mission to enter the moon’s orbit. He will be the first Canadian to fly to the moon.

Asrar will be there in-person teaching for three weeks, but before and after he is teaching and supporting the participants virtually.

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