Course authors and lecturers

The authors of the course are employees of the RAS Institute of Biomedical Problems, performing research in extraterrestrial biology, physiology and medicine; ecological, extreme, sports, aviation, alpine physiology and medicine; gravitational physiology; biological, physical and chemical, and integrated life support systems; cell physiology; biotechnology; physiological psychology; engineering psychology and ergonomics; radiobiology; magnetobiology; exobiology.

Gennadiy Ivanovich Tischenko

Architect, fantasy artist and author, film maker.

Margarita Aleksandrovna Levinskikh

Doctor of Biological Sciences majoring in Extraterrestrial Biology and Medicine, graduate of MSU's Faculty of Biology, leading research associate of Russian State Science Center at the Russian Academy of Science Institute of Biomedical Problems.

Evgeniy Aleksandrovich Ilyin

M.D., professor, active member of the International Academy of Astronautics, Vice-Chairman of the Extraterrestrial Biology and Physiology section of RAS Space Counsel, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Aerospace and Ecological Medicine magazine.

Georgiy Ivanovich Samarin

Candidate of Medical Science, Head of the Biomedical Programs Development and Implementation Laboratory at the RAS Institute of Biomedical Problems.

About the course

Extraterrestrial biology is a science that studies possibilities of life in conditions of space and during spacecraft flight, as well as principles of building biological systems for life support of spaceship and space platform crew members. It considers lack of gravitational effect on organisms, the ability of organisms to exist in a vacuum and so on. One type of extraterrestrial biology is xenobiology, a particular kind of extraterrestrial biology that studies the possibility of intelligent life in space; the name of this science comes from the word "xenos" meaning alien, extraneous.

Course structure

1. Russian cosmism and astronautics.

2. Extraterrestrial architecture: past, present, future.

3. Extraterrestrial biology: plants in space.

4. Extraterrestrial biology: animals in space.

5. Extraterrestrial medicine: humans in space.

6. Extraterrestrial life in science fiction.

Purpose of the course

To gain an understanding of extraterrestrial biology and other in-demand occupations on a space platform.

Required qualifications

Basic knowledge of biology and social studies.

Course results

This course introduces the participants to extraterrestrial biology and medicine, and covers different viewpoints on space, as formed in culture and science.