Exploring cancer, heart, and bone in zero gravity: Mr. ‘Microgravity’ embarks on parabolic flight for scientific research.

Julie Manon, a research fellow at the Neuro Musculo Skeletal Lab at UCLouvain, is the project manager for the 3rd scientific experiment on board. Her research focuses on fractures in extreme situations, and this weightless flight provides her with an opportunity to test mechanical stresses on demineralized bone fractures to understand how they reform and measure the impact of weightlessness on fractures.

Julie has been working on developing a device to treat fractures in real conditions since 2022 when she participated in the UCLouvain to Mars mission in the Utah desert. She has been coaching her teammates to treat fractures in extreme conditions, setting up emergency surgery, and exploring the possibility of extrapolating her findings to developing countries or war situations. Ultimately, her goal is to create a portable “kit” system for fractures, similar to cardiac defibrillators.

The 3rd scientific experiment on board concerns bone fractures, and its project manager is Julie Manon, FNRS research fellow at the Neuro Musculo Skeletal Lab at UCLouvain. She is carrying out research on fractures in extreme situations: this weightless flight will allow her to test mechanical stresses on demineralized bone fractures, to see how they reform, and to measure the impact of weightlessness on the fracture. .

Julie Manon has been holding her bone, if we may dare, for several years: in 2022, she participated in the UCLouvain to Mars mission, in the Utah desert. Its objective was to develop a device to treat the fractures of astronauts in real conditions, without having to resort to a surgeon. She therefore coached her teammates to treat fractures, in extreme conditions. Setting up emergency surgery, seeing if it is possible to extrapolate it to developing countries, or in war situations, that is his ambition. Eventually, Julie Manon hopes to create a portable “kit” system for fractures, a bit like cardiac defibrillators.



In conclusion, Julie Manon’s research on bone fractures in extreme situations is essential for the future of space exploration. Her work not only benefits astronauts but also opens doors for emergency medical treatment in developing countries and during wartime. With her ambition to create a portable “kit” for fractures, Julie Manon is setting a new standard for medical innovation. Her contributions to the field will undoubtedly play a critical role in shaping the future of medicine and space exploration.

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