AN OUT OF THIS WORLD OPPORTUNITY – STUDY SPACE MEDICINE WITH AN ASTRONAUT AT MUNCASTER
There is always something fascinating to learn and explore at Muncaster Castle — but from 1–4 June 2026, things will be taken to new heights (literally) as the castle hosts a world-leading space medicine course.
Following the success of their Prolonged Field Care Course, World Extreme Medicine (WEM) returns to Muncaster with a programme that is truly out of this world.
A Four-Day Journey Into Space Medicine
Over four immersive days, participants will gain in-depth insight into healthcare in one of the most challenging and fascinating environments imaginable: space.
While space medicine can seem abstract — reserved for astronauts and billion-pound missions — its influence on healthcare on Earth is already significant and growing. From remote diagnostics to treating patients in extreme, resource-limited environments, the lessons learned in orbit are increasingly relevant to clinicians, expedition leaders, and healthcare systems worldwide.
Led by Veteran Astronaut Dr Michael Barratt
The course will be led by Dr Michael Barratt, who has spent more than 400 days in space across multiple missions, including two spacewalks and eight months aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
With a background in internal and aerospace medicine, Dr Barratt occupies a unique position at the intersection of medicine and human spaceflight. He is also Senior Editor of Principles of Clinical Medicine for Space Flight and lectures internationally on the future of aerospace medicine.
What the Course Covers
Participants will explore a wide range of topics, including:
- How the human body adapts to microgravity
- The physiological impacts of long-duration spaceflight
- Healthcare challenges in isolated and resource-limited environments
- Medical decision-making where evacuation may not be possible
- The future of commercial spaceflight and space tourism
- Emerging challenges in aerospace healthcare
The course is highly practical, drawing on real operational experience and case-based learning throughout.
Sessions combine clinical science with lived experience, offering rare insight into how medicine is practised in space — and how those lessons can improve healthcare here on Earth. This includes applying knowledge from the muscle and bone effects of microgravity to support the treatment of long-term ICU patients.
Who Should Attend?
The course is designed for healthcare professionals and students from all backgrounds who are interested in medicine in extreme, remote, or high-performance environments.
While particularly relevant for those curious about aerospace medicine, the programme’s focus on healthcare in challenging and resource-limited settings makes it applicable across a broad range of remote and expeditionary medical contexts.
No prior experience in aviation or space medicine is required — only curiosity.
Booking Information
Further details about the course, including how to book a place, can be found on the World Extreme Medicine Space Medicine Course page.
Accommodation at Muncaster for the duration of the course can also be booked separately. Instructions are included within the course joining information.
