While astronauts are celebrated for their groundbreaking work in space exploration, a new Sidney Museum exhibit sheds light on a lesser-known aspect of their profession: the challenges to their physical and mental well-being.
Health in Space: Daring to Explore is developed by the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, part of Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation, in collaboration with the Canadian Space Agency.
Opening May 5, the exhibit reveals the unique challenges faced by astronauts, including variable gravity, radiation exposure and the psychological impact of isolation during space missions.
"This exhibition helps to demystify a very complex aspect of space exploration, celebrate the important contributions Canadians have made in this field and better understand the unique medical challenges astronauts face," said Christina Tessier, CEO and president of Ingenium.
Visitors can expect to see authentic artifacts and engage in interactive activities designed to highlight Canada’s crucial role in advancing health research related to space travel.
The museum emphasizes that breakthroughs in this field are not only vital for the success of future deep-space expeditions but also hold potential for solving medical challenges here on Earth.
The exhibit also features exclusive video interviews with Canadian astronauts, including a special section dedicated to astronaut David Saint-Jacques' recent mission. It will cover everything from his selection and rigorous training to the groundbreaking experiments he conducted while aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Health in Space: Daring to Explore runs until Nov. 30 at the Sidney Museum, open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is by donation.
