Engineers build the vessel, but medical teams ensure the crew survives the trip. In this episode of The Space Nurse Podcast, we bridge the gap between the bedside and the launchpad with Colin Hills, RN, a NASA HMS Operations Specialist supporting the International Space Station and the Artemis program.

From the high-pressure environments of Level 1 Trauma centers to the technical complexities of Mission Control, Colin explains how a background in austere medicine prepares nurses for the rigors of spaceflight. We dive deep into the concept of "Systems Thinking," the necessity of planning for your "second worst failure," and what it really means for a clinician to be the vital "Human in the Loop" within aerospace engineering. Whether you are looking to translate your clinical jargon into "NASA-speak" or want a behind-the-scenes look at 800-page medical checklists, this episode is your blueprint for the future of nursing in the final frontier.

Follow Colin on Linkedin

Colin said your first priority is to learn "your patient" you can do that with me by joining The Space Nurse® Academy, learn about the 5 hazards of space flight AND what microgravity does to EACH body system. What NASA knows and what they don't know (the gaps WE need to solve). PENDING approval for Florida Board of Nursing CEUs (valid in 48 states!)

Do you think the upcoming Artemis moon mission is a groundbreaking milestone? Or a rerun of past space endeavors, full of hype and political pivots? Christine Rincon, ICU nurse turned space medicine advocate, unpacks the myths and realities behind this modern-day space race — revealing why the headlines might be overselling what’s really happening on and off the lunar surface.

In this eye-opening hot take micro episode, Christine digs into the real science behind Artemis, from water ice on the lunar south pole to cutting-edge organ-on-a-chip tech testing how space radiation affects human DNA. She busts myths about the mission’s cost, scientific progress, and the true reason we're headed back to the moon — and why it all matters for humanity’s future. Spoiler: it's not just about rockets or political strategy — it’s about survival, diversity, and the innovations that could revolutionize healthcare on Earth.

You’ll discover:

• Why the Artemis mission targets the lunar south pole and the significance of water ice for future explorers
• The surprising truth about NASA’s budget and why space spending is more a matter of priorities than costs
• How space medical research, like astronaut CPR testing and organ-on-a-chip development, could radically improve healthcare here on Earth
• The political dance behind decades of spaceflight pivots, broken promises, and shifting goals that keep public interest teetering
• Why true innovation in space requires diverse minds and leadership that reflect humanity’s full spectrum — not just strategic dominance

This episode is perfect for space enthusiasts, healthcare professionals, engineers, and anyone frustrated by the hype and tired of the politics overshadowing science. If you've ever wondered why our moon missions seem caught in a loop — or how space tech can revolutionize medicine — this is essential listening.

Join Christine Rincon, an ICU nurse with over a decade of experience, as she bridges the worlds of medicine and engineering to reveal what’s really at stake in our pursuit of the stars. Whether you’re a clinician, a space fanatic, or just curious about humanity’s next giant leap, this conversation will challenge your perceptions and inspire action.

Why settle for reruns when we can write the future? Tune in and get inspired to see space exploration as a vital pathway to saving lives both on Earth and beyond.

Are you wondering how The Space Nurse can help you? Check us out at the Space Nurse Website!

Learn space medicine at the Space Nurse Academy

Discover how Dr. Devjoy Dev merges biomedical engineering, space medicine, and science communication to shape the future of human space exploration. From sleep in space to hackathons and public outreach, this episode dives into cutting-edge topics and innovative projects driving the industry forward.

In this episode:

✨ Dr. Devjoy Dev shares his diverse background, including space medicine, sleep biology, and neuroengineering

✨ Insights into how microgravity affects sleep and circadian regulation, including the role of sunlight and regulators like Zeitgebers

✨ The potential and ethics of genetically engineering humans for space resilience

✨ The evolution of interdisciplinary roles in space exploration, from engineers to healthcare professionals

✨ His ongoing projects: Humans of the Sky and a comprehensive book on the future of space medicine

✨ The significance of effective science communication amid social media and AI advancements

Also... Ethan Hawke was in Gattaca! 🤣

Follow Dr Devjoy on his website

Check out the Humans of the Sky on the website and on instagram @humansofthesky_

Fist My Bump! *Rocky Voice*

Celebrate Project Hail Mary weekend with us as we explore the reality of human hibernation! Harvard-trained researcher Dr. Ekaterina Kostioukhina joins the show to break down the science of hypometabolic states, animal-inspired torpor, and how lowering our metabolism could revolutionize both deep space travel and critical care right here on Earth.

But this science isn't just for interplanetary journeys. Dr. Kostioukhina shares remarkable case studies that prove how non-invasive methods to induce torpor could reduce the need for complex ICU care during Earth-bound crises. This is how we bridge the gap between aerospace medicine and improving healthcare on Earth, fundamentally changing disaster response and outcomes for rural communities. Dive into the future where humans might cycle in and out of lowered metabolism, enabling us to thrive in space and at home!

Main Topics:

• The science of hypometabolic states: What it actually is and how it differs from natural sleep.
• Biomimicry in space: What we are learning from bears, tardigrades, and natural hibernators.
• How non-invasive torpor could drastically reduce the need for complex ICU interventions.
• The massive potential for space medicine to revolutionize disaster response and rural healthcare.
• The future of deep-space transit: Cycling crews in and out of lowered metabolic states to conserve resources.

Follow Dr. Ekaterina on LinkedinFollow HIBERIA

Based on Jared Isaacman’s recent interview, we explore the alarming gap between NASA's "light speed" engineering and its "1960s-era" medical architecture. We expose the physiological realities of deep space travel—from flattened eyeballs and bone degradation to the risk of managing a kidney stone during a vomiting incident—and explain why traveling to Mars guarantees sick astronauts who will urgently require nursing expertise.

Today, we're dissecting Jared Isaacman's recent conversation with the New York Times, focusing on NASA's critical pivot from maintaining low Earth orbit to active deep space exploration. While there is plenty of optimistic news—from bipartisan funding and the game-changing Nancy Grace Roman telescope to the promising medical innovations in microgravity (like 3D printing organs)—there is also a necessary dose of reality.

While the engineering hardware is moving at "light speed," the human system hardware and architecture are lagging dramatically behind—feeling more like the 1960s. Join us as we break down why this gap exists, what it means for future Mars missions, and why the nursing perspective is non-negotiable for building the next era of space travel.

Tune in to discover:

• The promising new technology, including the Nancy Grace Roman telescope and the potential for microgravity 3D organ printing.
• Why current engineering hardware is moving at light speed while medical capabilities remain stuck in the 1960s.
• The "Hollowing Out a Log" analogy: Jared Isaacman’s stark perspective on our current space survival capabilities.
• The terrifying physiological threats facing astronauts: SANS (Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome), horrific motion sickness vs. necessary alertness, and managing bone loss (which guarantees kidney stones).
• Why surviving Mars travel will require a complete cultural shift from a "screening culture" (healthy astronauts only) to a "continuous care culture" managed by nurses.

Nurses: How to Claim Your SpaceLearn Aerospace Physiology and the language of systems engineering.Participate in Analogs (HERA, Lunaris) and contribute to critical literature (Remote Triage, Space Pharmacology gaps).Take the Next Step:Space Research? Rescue? Want to know where you fit in? Find your space niche using the Space Nurse Pathfinder AI

In this episode, we sit down with Seline Ryan, a registered nurse from Sydney, Australia, who is pioneering the field of space nursing through her The Bioastronautical Nursing Initiative. Discover the vital role nurses play in space exploration and why a human-centered approach is crucial for the future of aerospace medicine.

In this engaging conversation, I interview Seline Ryan, a registered nurse from Sydney, Australia, who is pioneering the field of space nursing through her Bioastronautics Initiative.

We discuss the vital role nurses will play in space exploration, the realities of navigating a physician-dominated field, and why a human-centered approach is the missing link in aerospace medicine today. Seline shares her personal journey, her insights on the future of nursing in space, and her top advice for aspiring space nurses.

Main Topics:

• Seline’s journey into aerospace and the creation of the Bioastronautics Initiative.
• The vital, hands-on role nurses will play in the future of space exploration.
• Navigating the challenges and breaking barriers in a traditionally physician-dominated field.
• Why space medicine desperately needs a human-centered, nursing perspective.
• Actionable advice for aspiring space nurses on the importance of adaptability and collaboration in this emerging industry.

Links & Resources:Follow The Bioastronautical Nursing InitiativeTake the Next Step: Ready to build the foundation for your career in space medicine?

Clinicians start here: https://thespacenurse.com/start-your-journey

Check out my course, the Space Nurse Academy

The title "Space Nurse" might not exist on job boards yet, but the work is already happening. In this episode, we strip away the sci-fi fantasy to explore how allied health professionals can translate their clinical skills into the data and risk management roles major space organizations are hiring for today.

If you search for "Space Nurse" on a job board, you will find a blank page. The title does not exist yet. The work, however, is already happening.In this episode, we strip away the sci-fi fantasy and look at the operational reality of aerospace medicine today. We explore how allied health professionals are actively transforming their clinical skills into the data and risk management roles that major space organizations are hiring for right now.I am giving you the exact blueprint to bridge the gap between bedside clinician and aerospace asset.

Tune in to discover:

• The "coded language" you must type into search bars to uncover hidden jobs within engineering teams.
• The specific, free research groups you can join today to legitimately put NASA on your resume by the end of the week.
• The hidden skill set that makes hiring a nurse cheaper and safer than hiring a physician.
• The exact rooms and conferences you need to be in to shake hands with the people making the hiring decisions.

Take the Next Step:Ready to build the foundation for your career in space medicine?

Check out the Space Nurse Academy and get the foundation on what you need to know about microgravity and its effects on the body. After taking the full physiology course you will get a certificate that shows your expertise!

You have the clinical experience and the degrees, but getting noticed in the space industry requires speaking the right language. In the inaugural episode of The Space Nurse Podcast, learn the "Translation Protocol" to convert your nursing resume into the operational language that aerospace engineers and hiring managers actually understand.

You have the clinical experience. You have the degrees. But when you look for jobs in the space industry, you get silence.

Why? It’s not because you’re unqualified. It’s because you’re speaking the wrong language.

In this inaugural episode of The Space Nurse Podcast, Christine Rincon (MSN, NRP, CCRN) breaks down the "Translation Protocol"—the exact method to convert your nursing resume into the operational language that engineers and hiring managers actually speak.

Main Topics:

• Why engineers view "Patient Care" as subjective and passive (and how to make it sound technical).
• The 5 "Magic Words" that turn a Bedside Nurse into a Human Systems Integration Specialist.
• The Lupe Fiasco Model: Why I’m modeling my career trajectory after a rapper from Chicago (and why you should refuse to stay in your lane).

Your Homework:Open your CV. Find the word "Care" and replace it with "Mitigation." Post your before and after on LinkedIn and tag @TheSpaceNurse!

Links & Resources:NASA-STD-3001 Vol 1 and Vol 2Website: www.thespacenurse.comFollow me on LinkedIn: Christine Rincon