At IAsMA, advancing aerospace medicine starts with the people shaping its future. Today we are celebrating one of our own: Dr. Renana Bruckstein has been selected to join the Austrian Space Forum (ÖWF) Analog Astronaut Class of 2026, following a long and demanding international selection process.
What analog astronauts do
Analog astronauts test the future of human space exploration right here on Earth. Their missions run in deserts and other extreme environments that simulate the challenges of the Moon and Mars. These serve as testbeds for technology, operations, human performance, and scientific research. Past ÖWF missions have taken place in Austria, Oman, Morocco, Armenia, and here in Israel’s Negev Desert.
A path from marine science to space medicine
Renana is a physician and researcher at the Center for Space Medicine at Charité Berlin, where her work focuses on how the human body adapts to extreme environments and the challenges of spaceflight. Her path began far from space, with a Bachelor’s in Marine Science at Ruppin Academic Center, and grew into a career at the intersection of medicine, research, and human performance.
“Being selected for this program is an incredible opportunity to bring together medicine, research, and human performance with my passion for exploration.”
Dr. Renana Bruckstein
In Renana’s own words
“Yessss! After a long and very challenging selection process, I have been selected as a member of the Austrian Space Forum (ÖWF) Analog Astronaut Class of 2026. Analog astronauts contribute to the future of human space exploration. While our missions take place here on Earth, they are conducted in deserts and other extreme environments that simulate the challenges of future space missions. They are testbeds for technology, operations, human performance, and scientific research in preparation for future missions to the Moon and Mars.
Previous missions have taken place in Austria, Oman, Morocco, Armenia, and the Negev Desert in Israel.
As a medical doctor and researcher at the Center for Space Medicine at Charité Berlin, my work focuses on how the human body adapts to extreme environments and the challenges of spaceflight. Being selected for this program is an incredible opportunity to bring together medicine, research, and human performance with my passion for exploration, a passion that began during my Bachelor’s in Marine Science at Ruppin Academic Center.
I am honored and really happy to join this interdisciplinary team, and excited for the adventures, challenges, and discoveries ahead.”
Congratulations, Renana. The IAsMA community is proud to celebrate your achievement and can’t wait to follow your journey.
