2024 Spaceflight Human Optimization & Performance Summit (SHOP-24)
Recap and Highlights
The second annual Spaceflight Human Optimization and Performance (SHOP) Summit, held April 17-19, 2024, at Space Center Houston, brought together a diverse group of more than 300 attendees with a common goal: To enhance the physical readiness of astronauts for the challenges of extended duration spaceflight.
Over three days, this collaborative effort between UHCL and summit premier sponsor, KBR, facilitated 23 sessions that featured insights from 33 distinguished speakers and panelists, spanning various disciplines, including former and current astronauts, strength and conditioning professionals, human performance scientists, flight surgeons, physical therapists, and more.
Keynote: Extreme Environments as a Catalyst for Disruptive Innovation
Presented by: Scott Parazynski, M.D., Astronaut (ret), NASA, OnwardAir, Inc.
The NASA Artemis Initiative - From Human Performance Perspective
Presented by: Randolph “Komrade” Bresnik, Astronaut and U.S. Marine Corps Colonel,
Ret. NASA
Exercise Countermeasures over Two Missions: Lessons Learned and Future Implications
Presented by: Luca Parmitano, Astronaut - European Space Agency (ESA)
Artemis from a Human Performance Perspective
Presented by: James Pattarini, MD, MPH, FAsMA, Flight Surgeon, Program Medical Officer
- Artemis Human Landing System, NASA - Johnson Space Center
Panel Discussion: The Artemis Initiative Analyzed through a Human Performance Lens
Presented by: Randolph “Komrade” Bresnik, Astronaut and U.S. Marine Corps Colonel,
Ret. NASA; Luca Parmitano, Astronaut - European Space Agency (ESA); James Pattarini,
MD, MPH, FAsMA, Flight Surgeon, Program Medical Officer - Artemis Human Landing System,
NASA; Kathleen “Kate” Rubins, Ph.D., Atronaut - NASA
NASA's Human Physiology, Performance, Protection and Operations (H3PO) Overview of
the Human Performance Laboratory
Presented by: Karina Marshall-Goebel, Ph.D., Co-Lead, H3PO Laboratory , NASA
Exercise Physiology and Countermeasures for Spaceflight - Current Questions and Challenges
Presented by: Alyssa Varanoske, Ph.D., CSCS, Human Performance Scientist, H3PO Laboratory,
KBR
Lunar Exercise Countermeasures Technology Development and Next Steps
Presented by: Brian Prejean, Ph.D., Human Performance Scientist, H3PO Laboratory,
KBR
Occupant Protection in Human Spaceflight
Presented by: Rachel Thompson, Human Performance Engineer, KBR at NASA Johnson Space
Center
Variable Pressure Spacesuits and Human Performance Implications
Presented by: Jason Norcross, Senior Scientist, H3PO Laboratory, KBR
Human Performance in Spacesuits and Exploration Operations
Presented by: Patrick Estep, Human Performance Engineer, H3PO Laboratory, GeoControl
Systems
Case Studies on Occupant Protection
Presented by: Keegan Yates, Ph.D., Injury Biomechanics Specialist, KBR
Panel Discussion: Human Performance Laboratory
Presented by: Karina Marshall-Goebel, Ph.D.; Alyssa Varanoske, Ph.D., CSCS; Brian
Prejean, Ph.D.; Rachel Thompson, Ph.D.; Jason Norcross; Patrick Estep; Keegan Yates,
Ph.D.
Effects of Spaceflight on Musculoskeletal Health: Exercise Considerations for Interplanetary
Travel
Presented by: Paul Comfort, Ph.D., Professor of Strength and Conditioning, Edith Cowan
University
New Exercise Capabilities in Space
Presented by: Thomas Andersen, CEO, Danish Aerospace Company A/S
On- and In-Body Biochemical Sensing for Performance and Health Enhancement
Presented by: Jorge Chávez, Ph.D., Scientist, US Air Force Research Laboratory
Commercial Space Food System: Obstacles and Opportunities
Presented by: Rahul Goel, Health and Performance Research on Axiom Missions
Panel Discussion: Medical Standards for Commercial Astronauts
Presented by: Joan Saary, MD, Ph.D., Director, Division of Occupational Medicine,
Department of Medicine, University of Toronto; Rahul Suresh, MD, Commercial CEO Development
Program, Program Medical Officer, NASA; Jennifer Fogarty, Ph.D., Chief Scientist,
Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH); Emmanuel Urquieta, M.D.,
M.S., Chief Medical Officer/Assistant Professor, Translational Research Institute
for Space Health / Baylor College of Medicine; Duncan Hughes, MD, Chief Medical Officer,
Virgin Galactic; Michael Harrison, Chief Medical Officer, Axiom Space, Inc.; Dana
Levin, Flight Surgeon/Medical Director, Vast Space
Orbital Reef: The Next Generation Space Station
Presented by: Liz Warren, Ph.D., Director of Research and Development, Orbital Reef,
Blue Origin
Elevating Human Potential in Space: The Integrated 'Whole Human' Approach
Presented by: Paul Goldberg, Director, Human Performance, Star Harbor
Jumping in Space
Presented by: John Kennett, CEO, Physical Mind London
STRONG+ER - Transitions & Recent Findings for Human Performance Tech
Presented by: Adam Strang, Ph.D., Product Area Lead - Air & Space Biosciences, U.S.
Air Force Research Laboratory
Panel Discussion: Exercise Countermeasures for Commercial Astronauts
Presented by: Luke Hughes, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in Aerospace Physiology and
Rehabilitation, Northumbria University; Marissa Rosenberg, Ph.D., Senior Medical Research
Engineer, Commercial Spaceflight Program; Nicole Strock, Ph.D., M.S., Human Performance
Scientist, (H-3PO) Laboratory, KBR at NASA Johnson Space Center; Brian Prejean, Ph.D.,
Lead, Exercise Physiology and Countermeasures, H-3PO Laboratory, KBR at NASA Johnson
Space Center; John Kennett, CEO, Physical Mind London; Stuart Lee, Cardiovascular
Discipline and Associate Element Scientist, KBR; Mark Guilliams, Spaceflight Human
Performance Consultant, KBR, Retired
Corey Twine, MS, CSCS
Co-Director, SHOP-24
Corey Twine is an Astronaut Strength, Conditioning and Rehabilitation (ASCR) Specialist at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) for KBR's Government Solutions U.S. Science and Space Business Unit. Prior to this role, Mr. Twine served as a strength and conditioning coach for the Army Special Forces as a part of the Preservation of the Force and Family contract at KBR. He also supported astronauts during the shuttle era, acting as the primary ASCR for several shuttle missions, including STS 114 "Return to Flight" in 2005. Since returning to KBR in 2018, Mr. Twine has worked extensively on projects spanning the design and implementation of mission-specific strength and conditioning programs for individuals in obscure environments.
William E. Amonette, PhD, CSCS
Co-Director, SHOP-24
William (Bill) Amonette, Ph.D., is the executive director of the Health and Human Performance Institute (HHPI). In this role he serves as the chief science officer for HHPI, leading the vision and the strategic direction for research, programming, and educational outreach. Amonette is also a tenured associate professor of exercise science; his research identifies physiologic and mechanical factors that may predict or limit human performance in populations ranging from professional and Olympic athletes to patients with chronic diseases or neurologic injuries.
MAJ. Danielle Anderson, DPT, DSc
MSK for Spaceflight and DOD Liaison
Major Danielle Anderson is a Physical Therapist currently assigned to Johnson Space
Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration. She delivers a spectrum of
neuromusculoskeletal care preparing and supporting both U.S and International Astronauts
for long duration space flight aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Additionally,
she provides consultation and management recommendations to Crew and Deputy Crew Flight
Surgeons working neuromusculoskeletal conditions on board the ISS. She serves as the
Air Force's liaison to the Military Musculoskeletal residency, a tri-service one-year
Physical Therapy residency, where she oversees admittance, regional instruction, and
successful program completion of Air Force, Army and Navy Physical Therapists.
Ariful I. Bhuiyan, PhD
Ariful Bhuiyan, Ph.D. is an assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering in the College
of Science and Engineering and a senior scientist and engineer in the HHPI. In this
role, he collaborates with the team on biomechanics related research and product development
across all four centers and leads the Center for Performance Innovation. Leveraging
his computational (finite element analysis), experimental, and image analysis skills,
Dr. Bhuiyan’s current research investigates biomedical devices and mechanisms of sport-related
injuries. A recent award from Barrios Technology recognizes his early-stage promising
research on total knee replacements. His other additive manufacturing-driven spinal
fusion project generates an intriguing set of data that will help further research
to relieve back pain.
Joseph B. Hazzard, EdD, ATC
Joseph Hazzard, Ed.D., ATC is the Clinical Director of the Health & Human Performance Institute. In this role he serves as a senior leader on the Board of Directors for HHPI, oversees all clinical operations, supervises graduate and undergraduate students, and works to integrate and develop research and clinical programs for the Institute. Dr. Hazzard brings more than 30 years of experience to HHPI as a clinician, teacher, and scholar in sports medicine and rehabilitation. His career includes 31 years as a faculty member and Head Athletic Trainer at the collegiate level; he also served as a site PI for the NCAA/DoD Grand Alliance Concussion Assessment, Rehabilitation, and Education (CARE) Consortium which was the largest longitudinal study of sport-related concussion at NCAA Institutions and the Military Service Academies ever funded.
Christi Keeler, MS, LAT, ATC
Christi Keeler is an Astronaut Strength, Conditioning and Rehabilitation (ASCR) Specialist
at NASA Johnson Space Center for KBR's Government Solutions U.S. Science and Space
Business Unit. Prior to this role, she worked in several orthopedic settings and in
organ and tissue procurement. Since joining KBR in 2022, Mrs. Keeler has worked extensively
supporting the neuromuscular care program by evaluating, treating and rehabilitating
injuries for both U.S. and international astronauts for long duration
spaceflight aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Her role also includes servicing
crew by instructing mobility classes, completing functional fitness evaluations, and
training on spaceflight Advanced Resistance Exercise Device (ARED).
Bruce Nieschwitz, ATC
Bruce Nieschwitz is an Astronaut Strength, Conditioning, and Rehabilitation Specialist
(ASCR) for KBR at NASA-JSC. Nieschwitz's primary role is to provide comprehensive
strength and conditioning, physical medicine, and rehabilitation services for pre-flight,
in-flight, and post-flight to active astronauts. Since Nieschwitz began at KBR in
2006, he has served as the primary ASCR assigned to numerous shuttle and ISS missions.
He also provides perspective, serving as a subject matter expert for designing and
using exercise hardware for spaceflight. He is a board-certified and Licensed Athletic
Trainer earning his B.S. from Kent State University and was a Graduate Assistant Athletic
Trainer at Mankato State University. Prior to joining the ASCR group, Nieschwitz was
the head of Athletic Training at Alvin Independent School District in Alvin, Texas.
Olympia Watts, MS
Olympia Watts is an Research coordinator in the HHPI. She graduated in the Summer
of 2022 with a M.S. in Exercise Science from the University of Houston-Clear Lake.
As a student, she was identified by several faculty members for her comprehension
of sophisticated physiology and ability to ask and answer in depth questions. Upon
joining the institute staff, she made an immediate impact with her leadership and
positive attitude. She developed and launched weekly virtual exercise classes, creating
an innovative solution to ensure members of the HHPI were continuing towards their
health goals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her personal goals are to continue learning
how to help individuals, through evidence-based practices, to live a better and healthier
life. She is passionate about learning, exercise, jiu jitsu, and food.
SHOP-24 Premier Sponsor
Platinum Sponsors