The aim of this course is to give students insight into the historical development of human spaceflight, an understanding of the technical requirements to be met in order to send humans into space and to present the current status of European activity in human spaceflight. The course will cover topics such as the effects of spaceflight on the human body, space suits, life support systems, astronaut training and manned missions to Mars. The development of space tourism will also be discussed. This course is for students studying on traditional science and engineering degree programmes as well as medical students and school teachers interested in technology and space. Lectures will be given by lecturers who are experts in their field and we expect a European astronaut to participate in the teaching of the course.

The course is part of Umeå University's International Summer University 2007. The first two weeks of the course will take place in Umeå on the university's main campus. The third week of the course will consist of a visit to the exotic town of Kiruna, which lies in the north of Sweden, above the Arctic Circle, about 600 km from the central Umeå campus. Kiruna is home to the Swedish Space Corporation Esrange, a site for launching rockets and balloons, a European Space Agency satellite station, the Swedish Institute of Space Physics, the world famous ICEHOTEL and Spaceport Sweden.

The course will be given in English and tuition will be free of charge to all participants, although students must cover their own expenses for attending. Applications will be accepted as long as places are still available.

For more information contact the course coordinator at summer@space.umu.se
or see the web page : www.irf.se/ link/summer_university