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this section
Countermeasures
to deal with Microgravity
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Countermeasures
to deal with Microgravity
Every object
in the shuttle or space station must be stowed in lockers, strapped down
or attached to the wall with Velcro.
When astronauts eat a meal in microgravity, they must be held to the shuttle
with footholds, and their food tray is attached to them with a strap.
The food tends to be in forms that are sticky or pasty, like rice or peanut
butter, so that it does not float away. If they are at a work station,
they use straps and footholds to restrain themselves. Portable equipment,
such as a laptop computer, is strapped to either the astronauts, an equipment
rack or the wall of the spacecraft.
Astronauts have to deal mainly with three changes to remain healthy:
- Fluid loss
- Loss of muscle tissue and bone mass
Fluid
Loss
One countermeasure to deal with fluid loss is a device called lower body
negative pressure (LBNP), which applies a vacuum-cleaner-like suction
below the waist to keep fluids down in the legs. This device might be
attached to an exercise device, such as a treadmill. Astronauts might
spend 30 minutes per day in the LBNP to keep their circulatory system
in near-Earth condition. Besides, they can drink large volumes of water
or electrolyte solutions to help replace the fluids they have lost.
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Deterioration
of Muscles and Bones
The best way to minize loss of muscle and bone mass in space is to exercise
frequently. This trains the muscles, prevent them from deteriorating and
places stress on the bones to produce a sensation similar to weight. The
astronauts should exercise as much as two hours a day on various machines
(e.g. treadmill, rowing machine, bicycle). Of course, they have to be
restrained during the exercise.
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Much more
research will be done to develop countermeasures to the body's changes
in microgravity. The research must be conducted both in the ground and
in outer space, by using both humans and animals. The results of the research
will help to improve the health of astronauts and prepare for the long-term
space exploration (e.g. a trip to Mars).
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Graphic:
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NASA
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