scholarly journals Remote automated multi-generational growth and observation of an animal in low Earth orbit

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (68) ◽  
pp. 596-599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Oczypok ◽  
Timothy Etheridge ◽  
Jacob Freeman ◽  
Louis Stodieck ◽  
Robert Johnsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Support ◽  
Experimental System ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Radiation Shielding ◽  
Earth Orbit ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Long Duration ◽  
Animal Growth ◽  
Interplanetary Missions

The ultimate survival of humanity is dependent upon colonization of other planetary bodies. Key challenges to such habitation are (patho)physiologic changes induced by known, and unknown, factors associated with long-duration and distance space exploration. However, we currently lack biological models for detecting and studying these changes. Here, we use a remote automated culture system to successfully grow an animal in low Earth orbit for six months. Our observations, over 12 generations, demonstrate that the multi-cellular soil worm Caenorhabditis elegans develops from egg to adulthood and produces progeny with identical timings in space as on the Earth. Additionally, these animals display normal rates of movement when fully fed, comparable declines in movement when starved, and appropriate growth arrest upon starvation and recovery upon re-feeding. These observations establish C. elegans as a biological model that can be used to detect changes in animal growth, development, reproduction and behaviour in response to environmental conditions during long-duration spaceflight. This experimental system is ready to be incorporated on future, unmanned interplanetary missions and could be used to study cost-effectively the effects of such missions on these biological processes and the efficacy of new life support systems and radiation shielding technologies.

Gynecologic Risk Mitigation Considerations for Long-Duration Spaceflight

2020 ◽  
Vol 91 (7) ◽  
pp. 543-564
Author(s):  
Jon G. Steller ◽  
Rebecca S. Blue ◽  
Roshan Burns ◽  
Tina M. Bayuse ◽  
Erik L. Antonsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Space Environment ◽  
Earth Orbit ◽  
Mineral Density ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Health Maintenance ◽  
Medical Risk ◽  
Long Duration ◽  
The Impact

INTRODUCTION: As NASA and its international partners, as well as the commercial spaceflight industry, prepare for missions of increasing duration and venturing outside of low-Earth orbit, mitigation of medical risk is of high priority. Gynecologic considerations constitute one facet of medical risk for female astronauts. This manuscript will review the preflight, in-flight, and postflight clinical evaluation, management, and prevention considerations for reducing gynecologic and reproductive risks in female astronauts.METHODS: Relevant gynecological articles from databases including Ovid, Medline, Web of Science, various medical libraries, and NASA archives were evaluated for this review. In particular, articles addressing preventive measures or management of conditions in resource-limited environments were evaluated for applicability to future long-duration exploration spaceflight.RESULTS: Topics including abnormal uterine bleeding, anemia, bone mineral density, ovarian cysts, venous thromboembolism, contraception, fertility, and health maintenance were reviewed. Prevention and treatment strategies are discussed with a focus on management options that consider limitations of onboard medical capabilities.DISCUSSION: Long-duration exploration spaceflight will introduce new challenges for maintenance of gynecological and reproductive health. The impact of the space environment outside of low-Earth orbit on gynecological concerns remains unknown, with factors such as increased particle radiation exposure adding complexity and potential risk. While the most effective means of minimizing the impact of gynecologic or reproductive pathology for female astronauts is screening and prevention, gynecological concerns can arise unpredictably as they do on Earth. Careful consideration of gynecological risks and potential adverse events during spaceflight is a critical component to risk analysis and preventive medicine for future exploration missions.Steller JG, Blue RS, Burns R, Bayuse TM, Antonsen EL, Jain V, Blackwell MM, Jennings RT. Gynecologic risk mitigation considerations for long-duration spaceflight. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(7):543–564.

scholarly journals Arterial structure and function during and after long-duration spaceflight

2020 ◽  
Vol 129 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart M. C. Lee ◽  
L. Christine Ribeiro ◽  
David S. Martin ◽  
Sara R. Zwart ◽  
Alan H. Feiveson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Cardiovascular Health ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Earth Orbit ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Long Duration ◽  
Arterial Structure ◽  
And Function

Carotid artery structure and stiffness did not change on average in astronauts during long-duration spaceflight (<12 mo), despite increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Most oxidative stress and inflammation biomarkers returned to preflight levels soon after landing. Brachial artery structure and function also were unchanged by spaceflight. In this group of healthy middle-aged male and female astronauts, spaceflight in low Earth orbit does not appear to increase long-term cardiovascular health risk.

scholarly journals Experimental Arrangement for Testing the Effectiveness of Lead Glass for Shielding Against Ionizing Radiation in Low Earth Orbit for Future Space Vehicles

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 94-98
Author(s):  
Anurag Chapagain
Keyword(s):  
Ionizing Radiation ◽  
Structural Engineering ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Radiation Shielding ◽  
Experimental Arrangement ◽  
Earth Orbit ◽  
Space Vehicles ◽  
Lead Glass ◽  
Future Space ◽  
The Future

Abstract: The present times are exhilarating, full of possibilities, which humans, just a century ago, would deem impossible. One of them is space travel: an effort to step one foot in the vast cosmic ocean. Through this experimental arrangement, we want to make the journey a little bit affordable, easier, and most importantly, more enjoyable. The future of transportation is in space. The future space vehicle needs a material that is transparent, cheap, and safe by blocking ionizing radiation. Lead glass which is abundantly found on earth and is cheap is proved to be effective in shielding ionizing radiation. The problem is that it is tested in the earth’s environment for less energy radiation. Our experiment arrangement is designed to test the effectiveness of lead glass and if effective, the thickness of lead glass required for effective shielding of skin cells and microdrive. The experiment is designed as such to accommodate the whole setup in a cube of 3cm*3cm*3cm, so that experiment will be portable enough and easy to transport in low earth orbit This paper, however, doesn’t address the structural engineering solutions regarding implementation of lead glass as the material for space vehicles. Keywords: Ionizing radiation, radiation shielding, lead glass, low earth orbit, future space vehicles

Passive Radiation Shielding Investigations in Low Earth Orbit and in an Accelerator

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Guarnieri ◽  
C. Lobascio ◽  
M. Briccarello ◽  
M. Casolino ◽  
P. Picozza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Radiation Shielding ◽  
Earth Orbit

scholarly journals Operational radiation protection for human space flight: the flight surgeon’s perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 193-193
Author(s):  
U. Straube
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Protection ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Earth Orbit ◽  
Deep Space ◽  
Mission Success ◽  
Long Duration ◽  
Human Space Flight

Yuri Gagarin was the first human in space in 1961 almost 60 years ago. Eight years later Neil Armstrong left his footprints on the Moon – the first human on the surface of a celestial body other than Earth. By now long-duration missions of up to 1 year have become a reality for humans in space. Nearly 19 years of continuous human presence at the International Space Station (ISS) have provided a unique insight into human life in space. Humans are reaching out for more – targeting missions to take us outside the protective hull of low earth orbit into deep space. The challenges to human health and well-being remain significant and increase with distance and time from Earth. The lack of gravity, the ubiquitous ionising radiation, remoteness, and confinement are just some examples of the hostile environment of space. More hurdles have to be overcome prior to the human endeavour of reaching out into deep space and radiation is one such primary and inevitable factor that is key to crew health, safety and overall mission success. This presentation will provide an introduction into operational space medicine and radiation protection for humans in space as executed on ISS, in low earth orbit and in preparation for the scenarios ‘beyond’.

scholarly journals Thermoluminescence fading studies: Implications for long-duration space measurements in Low Earth Orbit

2013 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
pp. 303-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Bilski ◽  
T. Berger ◽  
M. Hajek ◽  
A. Twardak ◽  
C. Koerner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Earth Orbit ◽  
Long Duration
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