scholarly journals Hemolysis contributes to anemia during long-duration space flight

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy Trudel ◽  
Nibras Shahin ◽  
Timothy Ramsay ◽  
Odette Laneuville ◽  
Hakim Louati
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
International Space Station ◽  
Space Flight ◽  
Blood Cells ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Alveolar Air ◽  
International Space ◽  
Long Duration ◽  
One Year ◽  
Hemoglobin Degradation

AbstractAnemia in astronauts has been noted since the first space missions, but the mechanisms contributing to anemia in space flight have remained unclear. Here, we show that space flight is associated with persistently increased levels of products of hemoglobin degradation, carbon monoxide in alveolar air and iron in serum, in 14 astronauts throughout their 6-month missions onboard the International Space Station. One year after landing, erythrocytic effects persisted, including increased levels of hemolysis, reticulocytosis and hemoglobin. These findings suggest that the destruction of red blood cells, termed hemolysis, is a primary effect of microgravity in space flight and support the hypothesis that the anemia associated with space flight is a hemolytic condition that should be considered in the screening and monitoring of both astronauts and space tourists.

scholarly journals Estimated Muscle Loads During Squat Exercise in Microgravity Conditions

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher D. Fregly ◽  
Brandon T. Kim ◽  
Zhao Li ◽  
John K. De Witt ◽  
Benjamin J. Fregly
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Space Flight ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Resistive Exercise ◽  
International Space ◽  
Free Weight ◽  
Squat Exercise ◽  
Term Space Flight ◽  
Microgravity Conditions

Loss of muscle mass in microgravity is one of the primary factors limiting long-term space flight [1]. NASA researchers have developed a number of exercise devices to address this problem. The most recent is the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) [2], which is currently used by astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) to emulate typical free-weight exercises in microgravity. ARED exercise on the ISS is intended to reproduce Earth-level muscle loads, but the actual muscle loads produced remain unknown as they cannot currently be measured directly.

Decreases in maximal oxygen uptake following long-duration spaceflight: Role of convective and diffusive O2 transport mechanisms

2017 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 968-975 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Ade ◽  
R. M. Broxterman ◽  
A. D. Moore ◽  
T. J. Barstow
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Uptake ◽  
International Space Station ◽  
Maximal Oxygen Uptake ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Hemoglobin Concentration ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Transport Pathway ◽  
International Space ◽  
Long Duration

We have previously predicted that the decrease in maximal oxygen uptake (V̇o2max) that accompanies time in microgravity reflects decrements in both convective and diffusive O2 transport to the mitochondria of the contracting myocytes. The aim of this investigation was therefore to quantify the relative changes in convective O2 transport (Q̇o2) and O2 diffusing capacity (Do2) following long-duration spaceflight. In nine astronauts, resting hemoglobin concentration ([Hb]), V̇o2max, maximal cardiac output (Q̇Tmax), and differences in arterial and venous O2 contents ([Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]) were obtained retrospectively for International Space Station Increments 19–33 (April 2009–November 2012). Q̇o2 and Do2 were calculated from these variables via integration of Fick’s Principle of Mass Conservation and Fick’s Law of Diffusion. V̇o2max significantly decreased from pre- to postflight (−53.9 ± 45.5%, P = 0.008). The significant decrease in Q̇Tmax (−7.8 ± 9.1%, P = 0.05), despite an unchanged [Hb], resulted in a significantly decreased Q̇o2 (−11.4 ± 10.5%, P = 0.02). Do2 significantly decreased from pre- to postflight by −27.5 ± 24.5% ( P = 0.04), as did the peak [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text] (−9.2 ± 7.5%, P = 0.007). With the use of linear regression analysis, changes in V̇o2max were significantly correlated with changes in Do2 ( R2 = 0.47; P = 0.04). These data suggest that spaceflight decreases both convective and diffusive O2 transport. These results have practical implications for future long-duration space missions and highlight the need to resolve the specific mechanisms underlying these spaceflight-induced changes along the O2 transport pathway. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Long-duration spaceflight elicited a significant decrease in maximal oxygen uptake. Given the adverse physiological adaptations to microgravity along the O2 transport pathway that have been reported, an integrative approach to the determinants of postflight maximal oxygen uptake is needed. We demonstrate that both convective and diffusive oxygen transport are decreased following ~6 mo International Space Station missions.

scholarly journals Challenges for a Sustainable Food Production System on Board of the International Space Station: A Technical Review

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 687
Author(s):  
Petronia Carillo ◽  
Biagio Morrone ◽  
Giovanna Marta Fusco ◽  
Stefania De Pascale ◽  
Youssef Rouphael
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Space Missions ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
International Space ◽  
Physical Constraints ◽  
Fresh Food ◽  
Long Duration ◽  
Lighting Systems

The possibility of prolonging space missions—and consequently the permanence of humans in space—depends on the possibility of providing them with an adequate supply of fresh foods to meet their nutritional requirements. This would allow space travelers to mitigate health risks associated with exposure to space radiation, microgravity and psychological stress. In this review, we attempt to critically summarize existing studies with the aim of suggesting possible solutions to overcome the challenges to develop a bio-regenerative life support system (BLSS) that can contribute to life support, supplying food and O2, while removing CO2 on the International Space Station (ISS). We describe the physical constraints and energy requirements for ISS farming in relation to space and energy resources, the problems related to lighting systems and criteria for selecting plants suitable for farming in space and microgravity. Clearly, the dimensions of a growth hardware that can be placed on ISS do not allow to produce enough fresh food to supplement the stored, packaged diet of astronauts; however, experimentation on ISS is pivotal for implementing plant growth systems and paves the way for the next long-duration space missions, including those in cis-lunar space and to the lunar surface.

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