Getting to the Moon is only half the challenge. Space medicine expert Ilaria Cinelli on why human biology — not technology — is the real frontier of lunar exploration.

Edited by Ilaria Cinelli, this open-access book argues that success on the Moon and Mars depends not on technology alone — but on the humans behind the missions.

Preparing humans for deep space starts on Earth. This paper introduces a new framework to identify which extreme environments — from cave diving to polar expeditions — best replicate the demands of future space missions, putting behavioural health at the centre of mission design.

Do we still need humans in space? Ilaria Cinelli tackles one of the most pressing questions of the new space age in this SpaceNews opinion piece — arguing that AI and robots, however capable, cannot replace the irreplaceable human spirit of exploratio

Space is the next frontier in healthcare — and healthcare is the key to sustainable space exploration. This editorial, guest-edited by Ilaria Cinelli for the IEEE Open Journal of Engineering in Medicine and Biology, introduces a Special Issue exploring the reciprocal relationship between space and health: from astronaut care beyond Earth orbit to space-derived innovations that transform medicine on the ground.

Space meets global health. The 2024 Annual Report of the Space and Global Health Network highlights a year of growing momentum — from a dedicated track at the Geneva Digital Health Day to a Space and Global Health Hackathon with ESA, and the launch of a transdisciplinary curriculum taskforce bringing together 32 experts worldwide.

A peer-reviewed volume exploring the effects of space travel on the human body, emerging medical technologies, and the broader implications of space medicine for global healthcare. Co-edited with Kyla Latrice Tennin and published by IGI Global.