Research on the space station looks at how these properties change in space, how those changes affect daily performance, and countermeasures to keep astronauts at their peak.
Current CSA (Canadian Space Agency) investigations, Space healthevaluates the effects of spaceflight on cardiovascular deconditioning. The investigation uses Biomonitorwearable sensors that collect data such as pulse rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, skin temperature, and physical activity level. The findings may support the development of an autonomous system for cardiovascular health monitoring on future space missions. Similar technology could be used to monitor heart health in people on Earth.
During spaceflight, astronauts lose muscle mass and stiffness, which are indicators of strength. Astronaut exercise Monitoring of exercise effectiveness was limited to pre- and post-flight due to the lack of technology suitable for use in space, but daily to counter these effects. ESA (European Space Agency) Myotons Investigation shows that a small, non-invasive device Measured accurately muscle stiffness and demonstrated that current countermeasures are effective for most muscle groups. Accurate flight evaluations can help scientists target specific muscles to improve the effectiveness of exercise programs on future missions. A measuring device can also benefit patients without any other means on earth.
Research suggests that the effects of spaceflight on cognitive performance are likely due to the effects of stressors such as radiation and Sleep disturbance. Longer missions that increase exposure to these hazards can change how they affect individuals.
Manual control used a battery of tests to examine how spaceflight affects cognitive, sensory, and motor function immediately after landing. The day they return from space flight, astronauts Demonstration Significant impairments in fine motor control and ability to multitask in simulated flight and driving challenges. Researchers attribute this to subtle physical changes during spaceflight. Performance recovered once individuals were exposed to a task, suggesting that it may be beneficial to have staff members perform simulated tasks prior to real tasks. This work helps scientists ensure that crew members can land safely and perform initial operations on the Moon and Mars.
Standard measures Collects a set of physical and mental measurements related to the hazards of human spaceflight, including a cognitive test battery, from astronauts before, during, and after a mission. Using these data, researchers found that astronauts on 6-month missions showed generally stable cognitive performance with mild changes in some domains, including processing speed, working memory, attention, and willingness to take risks. The findings provide baseline data that can assist future missions in identifying cognitive changes and developing appropriate countermeasures. The study includes the largest sample of professional astronauts published to date.
Another function that may be affected by spaceflight is sensory perception, such as the ability to interpret motion, orientation, and distance. We use our visual perception of the height and width of objects around us, for example, to reach for something and decide whether we can fit through an opening. VECTIONa CSA investigation found that microgravity was No immediate effect The ability to sense the height of an object, indicates that astronauts can safely perform tasks that rely on this judgment immediately after arriving in space. The researchers concluded that there was no need for countermeasures but suggested that astronauts be alerted to late-emerging and potentially long-lasting changes in the ability to perceive the object’s height.
Melissa Gaskell
International Space Station Research Communications Team
Johnson Space Center