Preparation of future manned exploration missions (SpaceshipFR)
Agencies around the world are moving towards increasingly complex exploration missions. These missions to the Moon, to Mars and beyond will require innovative technologies to support humanity in this new adventure.
What is SpaceShip FR ?
To prepare for the future of exploration, CNES, with Spaceship FR, joins the network of European Spaceships coordinated by the European Space Agency to promote French excellence in the fields of Exploration and Human Spaceflights.
Spaceship FR intends to develop human spaceflight through 7 technology topics (see below). It aims to consolidate and integrate the technological bricks needed for future lunar and Martian bases. This is achieved by building bridges between stakeholders by spinning off technologies from space to Earth and Earth to space.
Objectives of Spaceship FR
The Spaceship FR goals can be summarized with 3 words:
INSPIRE
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Spread the awareness towards a general audience,
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Foster French professional talents through technological development.
CONNECT
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Facilitate collaborative and interdisciplinary projects,
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Extended network of industry and research experts to accelerate the development of innovative solutions
SUPPORT
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Through research and experimentation, support the growth of innovative solutions towards their space applications and improve their terrestrial implications.
MEDES and SpaceshipFR
At Spaceship FR, MEDES develops health and nutrition topics.
This translates into:
- the organization of workshops and the matchmaking between Health and Space ecosystems.
- the setting up and follow-up of projects with students, industry and even laboratories.
- the mentoring of interns, post-docs and PhD students.
- the valorization of the work done at Spaceship FR through publications and conferences
Overview of some recent MEDES / Spaceship FR activities
As part of our health support for Spaceship FR, we are involved in numerous activities.
SPHERE Study
December 2025
MEDES, alongside its partners CNES, Spaceship FR, Human Design Group, and Toulouse University Hospital (CHU de Toulouse), conducted a unique project designed to evaluate team performance during an immersive Mars simulation. The objective: to understand how crews adapt and cooperate to maintain maximum efficiency in extreme operational environments.
This simulation was carried out on the SENS platform at Toulouse University Hospital—a facility capable of stimulating almost every sensory dimension, including visual immersion, scents, sound effects (explosions!), wind, and thermal control. Traditionally used to train emergency medical teams, the platform was leveraged here to test a realistic Martian operational scenario and study crew responses to high-stress events such as communication blackouts, Martian dust storms, and meteor showers.
The simulation involved 32 volunteers, and its conclusive results should pave the way for further similar testing.
As part of our health support for Spaceship FR, we are involved in numerous activities.
Launch and follow-up of a “Digital Twin of the Astronaut” challenge
April 11 – May 8, 2023
This challenge is aimed at those developing innovative projects for modeling physiological changes that could contribute to the creation of a digital twin for astronauts, enhancing their healthcare autonomy.
This challenge complements the R&T call for ideas organized by CNES in collaboration with Connect by CNES, AP-HP (Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris), and MEDES.
🎯 The objective?
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Enhance astronaut autonomy for health monitoring, diagnosis, and/or prognosis,
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Test medical strategies or countermeasures (preventative measures against the adverse effects of the space environment), including medical, nutritional, exercise-based, cognitive, and psychological approaches,
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Recommend personalized countermeasure programs necessary to maintain an astronaut’s health.
Applications are now closed. The winners will be announced at the end of June.
To learn more about the challenge, clic here.
Brainstorming the Future Medical Bay on Mars
In-depth work was carried out to envision the requirements for a medical bay on Mars. Participatory design-fiction workshops featuring various scenarios were held over several weeks. This effort resulted in a publication edited by CNES.
It presents three short stories stemming from insights gathered through design-fiction methodology, alongside a full overview of the approach used.
Other Projects
Spaceship FR is involved in monitoring numerous health-related projects. Recent initiatives include:
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Mental workload assessment during Head-Down Tilt (HDT)
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Stress management countermeasure system
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Skin 3D bioprinting
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Radioprotection for Lunar and Martian habitats
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And more…