This is a very special edition of the Zero Pressure Podcast series as Helen Sharman is joined by 3 fellow astronauts to discuss the future of space stations.

Since the 1970s, humans have been using orbiting space stations as places to live and work in microgravity. More than engineering and life support marvels, they are platforms for ground-breaking experimental research, expanding our knowledge of science and our ability to explore further.

Helen is joined by Reinhold Ewald, German physicist and astronaut, now President of the Association of Space Explorers, who spent 20 days in space, 18 days on the Mir space station.  Soyeon Yi, biotechnologist, and South Korea’s first astronaut, who spent 11 days in space, 9 on the ISS. Soyeon is now a lecturer and businessperson, currently with a particular interest in medical devices.  And Christer Fuglesang, physicist and the first Swedish astronaut, who spent 26 days over 2 missions in space, 17 days on board the ISS, with five EVAs, or spacewalks.