Aerospace Science

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Foreword

Research Structures

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Culture and Education

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Research Structures and Researchers

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Interdisciplinarity in aerospace studies

The Study Group in Aerospace Science, formed in 2004 and led since then by Professor Thais Russomano, has the primary objective of developing interdisciplinary research projects related to human physiology before, during, and after microgravity simulations and parabolic flights, to aviation medicine, and to aerospace biomechanical engineering. The activities take place at the Microgravity Center (MicroG), which includes the Laboratories of Aerospace Physiology, Aeronautical Sciences Research, Aerospace Biomedical Engineering, Aerospace Pharmacy, Telemedicine, Aerospace Biomechanics, Aerospace Physiotherapy, and Imaging.

The MicroG, which began as a Laboratory in 1999, developed rapidly and continues to grow, keeping true to its main characteristics of interdisciplinarity, innovation, and internationalization. From the beginning, its projects have incorporated different areas, including biomechanics, engineering, medicine, pharmacy, and aviation. In 2006, the Laboratory underwent an expansion and evolved into a Center, gaining a new physical space at the School of Engineering. Since then, the number of projects undertaken has grown enormously along with the numbers of participating researchers, fellows, and students from other universities in Brazil and worldwide, all contributing to the development of new studies at the Center, as well as scientific publications. Universities based in North American, mainland Europe and the United Kingdom, such as King’s College London, are among the main partners.

The entire administration of the MicroG moved to premises at Tecnopuc in August 2012. One of the main objectives over the coming years is to increase the interaction with private initiatives by means of cooperation with companies, product development, and partnerships through announcements of opportunity, thereby encouraging entrepreneurship in the field.

In terms of current research, a project of note involves the development of a short-arm human centrifuge that spins when powered by exercise (pedaling), with this being the first such device in South America. It will be used for studies involving G-forces and as part of pilot training for military planes (fighter pilots).