Astronauts experience disturbances in balance and gait function when they return to Earth. The highly plastic human brain enables individuals to modify their behavior to match the prevailing environment. Subjects participating in specially designed variable sensory challenge training programs can enhance their ability to rapidly adapt to novel sensory situations. This is useful in our applicati...

Postflight orthostatic intolerance (POI) was reported to be higher in female than male astronauts and may result from sex-dependent differences in endothelial cell (EC) barrier permeability. Here the effect of 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on the expression of the tight junction protein occludin, EC barrier function, and MAPK activation over time was tested after subject...

Musculoskeletal pathologies associated with decreased bone mass, including osteoporosis and disuse-induced bone loss, affect millions of Americans annually. Microgravity-induced bone loss presents a similar concern for astronauts during space missions. Many pharmaceutical treatments have slowed osteoporosis, and recent data shows promise for countermeasures for bone loss observed in astronauts....

This investigation was designed to measure aerobic capacity (V̇o2peak) during and after long-duration International Space Station (ISS) missions. Astronauts (9 males, 5 females: 49 ± 5 yr, 77.2 ± 15.1 kg, 40.6 ± 6.4 ml·kg(-1)·min(-1) [mean ± SD]) performed peak cycle tests ∼90 days before flight, 15 days after launch, every ∼30 days in-flight, and on recovery days 1 (R + 1), R + 10, and R + 30. ...

This paper describes the advances being made in space robotics simulation to meet the challenges of astronaut training and space operations support. This simulator (MOTS) is being used to train International Space Station astronauts to perform on-orbit robotics tasks. It also supports mission planning and task verification in an operationally representative environment. The simulator supports c...

This paper reviews the interventions to stabilize calcium balance and bone metabolism and prevent bone loss in astronauts during space flight. Weightlessness during space flight results in calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K deficiency, increases urinary calcium excretion, decreases intestinal calcium absorption, and increases serum calcium level, with decreased levels of serum parathyroid hormon...

The information coming from the vestibular otolith organs is important for the brain when reflexively making appropriate visual and spinal corrections to maintain balance. Symptoms related to failed balance control and navigation are commonly observed in astronauts returning from space. To investigate the effect of microgravity exposure on the otoliths, we studied the otolith-mediated responses...

During interplanetary spaceflight, periods of extreme gravitational transitions will occur such as between hypergravity, hypogravity, and microgravity. Following transitions, rapid sensorimotor adaptation or maladaptation may which can affect gaze control weaken dynamic visual acuity in astronauts. A reduction during spaceflight could possibly impact impair mission critical activities (e.g., ex...

Since the early times of human spaceflight radiation has been, besides the influence of microgravity on the human body, recognized as a main health concern to the astroand cosmonauts. The radiation environment that the crew experiences during a space flight differs significantly to that found on earth due to particles of greater potential for biological damage. High-energetic charged particles,...