Breaking new ground: Hungary’s first ESA-certified space doctor Dr Klaudia Nagy

Hungary has officially appointed its first space doctor, Dr Klaudia Vivien Nagy, who will support European astronaut missions, including the 2025 mission of designated Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu. As the first ESA-accredited space doctor in the country, Dr Nagy plays a crucial role in ensuring the health and readiness of astronauts as they prepare for their missions.

Hungary’s first space doctor, Dr Klaudia Nagy Vivien, is set to assist European astronauts in their missions, including the 2025 mission of designated Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu. As reported on M1’s morning program, Dr Nagy, a cardiologist and adjunct professor at Semmelweis University, has completed the European Space Agency (ESA) accredited training program, making her the country’s first ESA-certified space doctor.

Dr Klaudia Nagy, Hungary’s first space doctor. Photo: Semmelweis University

Dr Nagy will not travel to space with the astronauts; instead, she will monitor their health and maintain a close relationship with them from Earth, Világgazdaság writes. Throughout Kapu’s mission, she will be present during the pre-launch quarantine, launch, and return phases to oversee his well-being. Since April 2023, she has worked closely with the four Hungarian astronaut candidates, participating in a year-long training programme that assessed their health and developed training regimens in collaboration with Semmelweis University.

In her role, Dr Nagy explained that Hungarian healthcare professionals enhanced NASA and ESA’s selection protocols by incorporating specialised health assessments, such as blood coagulation parameters and cardiac MRIs. This additional data provides valuable insights into the astronauts’ health.

Currently, Kapu and fellow candidate Gyula Cserényi are undergoing official mission training in Houston, with Dr Nagy continuously monitoring their health. She emphasised that both candidates are in excellent health.

Dr Nagy has had a passion for space from a young age, influenced by her love for science fiction films, particularly Star Wars. In an interview with semmelweis.hu, she noted how space exploration and related technologies have significantly contributed to everyday patient care, including the use of monitoring systems in intensive care and advancements in telemedicine.

Dr Nagy was approached by the Hunor program in 2022 to contribute to the medical and health aspects of the space program. After extensive pre-selection, Semmelweis University identified eight astronaut candidates from over 240 applicants based on health suitability. Dr Nagy also played a vital role in the training process, which included telemedicine and resuscitation training, ensuring that the candidates were fully prepared for their missions.

Following her training, Dr Nagy received her accredited space doctor certificate on 26 September, marking a significant milestone in Hungary’s contributions to space exploration and astronaut health management. As Semmelweis University actively participates in the Hunor Hungarian Astronaut Program, Dr Nagy’s expertise will be instrumental in ensuring the astronauts’ health throughout their rigorous missions.

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