Lucie Ráčková (CZE)
Physiologist, researcher, and future astronaut
Her research expedition to Antarctica, where she spent nearly three months studying stress in polar crews, set her on a path toward space. Lucie Ráčková recently earned her PhD in environmental physiology—a young discipline closely linked to human adaptation in extreme environments, including space.
She contributes to the training of analogue astronauts for simulated space missions, some of which she has joined herself. She teaches at the University of Hawaii, actively supports early-career scientists, and engages in science communication. Recently, she entered the business world as a research scientist at Honeywell, focusing on optimizing aviation safety, performance, and human-technology interaction. Her goal is to reduce human error, improve decision-making, and help innovate safer and more reliable air—and space—travel.