off to bed for the research: The German centre for air and space travel (DLR) starts on Monday in Cologne, together with the European space Agency ESA and the US space Agency, Nasa, is the first joint long-term bed rest study. For the first time, the use of artificial is the force of gravity as a possible countermeasure against the negative effects of weightlessness on the human body explores how the DLR announced on Thursday.
With bed rest studies are simulated in the space medicine and the effects of weightlessness on the body. Because without gravity, muscles and bones are strong, such as the DLR explained. Body fluids shift to the upper half of the body, the entire circulatory System is less stressed and is losing efficiency.
To the life of the astronauts, but in the future, for a long time in space or on the moon and Mars, have effective countermeasures against bone and muscle atrophy developed. Some of the subjects of the study project, which bears the name Agbresa (Artificial Gravity Bed Rest Study), therefore, during the three-month study daily in the Are of a short-sleeved centrifuge in the aerospace medical research facility: Envihab at DLR-site in Cologne turned.
“This bed rest study of DLR, Nasa and ESA space travel researchers from all over Europe and the United States offers the opportunity to work together and win together, a Maximum of human scientific knowledge,” explained the DLR Executive Board for space research and technology Hansjörg Dittus.
This research project are not in zero gravity or under simulated conditions is only important for astronauts to maintain the health and performance in space, but also for the people of the earth. Space medicine means, therefore, health research for the earth in all areas of prevention, diagnostics and therapy, pointed to the DLR.
For the study, will spend twelve female and male subjects 60 days in the beds of the Envihab. Including the Adjustment and recovery phase, your stay will take 89 days. During the bed rest phase takes place according to the DLR all the activities such as experiments, food, and leisure activities.
In their movements, the subjects are restricted, so that the stress of the muscles, Tendons and skeleton. Because the beds are inclined to head to six degrees down is triggered, the relocation of body fluids such as in the case of the astronauts in weightlessness.
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The Agbresa study will take place in two campaigns: The first, subjects took a pull to the DLR information on Monday to the Envihab, the second campaign starts in the beginning of September. For the second Phase in the autumn, the researchers are still looking for more volunteers, in particular, of the participants. (AFP)
