Duration Spaceflight Research Articles

The application of waste management systems for long duration spaceflight

In the future planned interplanetary expedition mission to Mars, spaceflight crewmembers will be exposed to an environment that is completely unique from anything they are accustomed to on Earth. Due to the characteristics of these missions, a challenge will be to design an environment that allows crewmembers to easily work and live in for extended durations. One of the challenges associated with these future missions is supplying the crew with essential resources for survivability such as food and water. In this case, the waste management system can play a role in a closed-loop life support system, as provisions sent with the crew will be severely limited with no opportunity for resupply. The following looks at the rationale of designing a system for collecting, storing, and recycling human bodily waste that (1) is considered user-friendly by crewmembers in regard to habitability in spaceflight, and (2) provides applications for a self sustaining closed-loop life support system that will aid the crew during the mission. Future design processes should consider adhering to these guidelines to help in the spaceflight crew's living environment and the conduction of the interplanetary expedition.

The effects of simulated microgravity on the seminiferous tubules of rats

Space flight has been shown to have many adverse effects on various systems throughout the body. Because the opportunity to place research animals on board a Space Shuttle or the International Space Station is infrequent, various techniques have been designed to simulate the effects of microgravity in Earth based laboratories. A commonly used technique is known as antiorthostatic suspension, also often referred to as hind limb suspension. In this technique the hind portion of the animal is raised so that its hind limbs are non-weight bearing. This places the animal in roughly a 30° head down tilt position. This results in cephalic fluid shifts similar to those seen in actual space flight. This technique has also been shown to mimic other physiological parameters that are affected during space flight. This study examined testicular tissue from rats subjected to a 7 day antiorthostatic suspension. This tissue was acquired through a tissue sharing program and some of the experimental animals were injected with Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) which was hoped to ameliorate some of the effects of antiorthostatic suspension. The injection of IL-1ra was not expected to have any effect on testicular tissue, however this tissue was included in the morphological and statistical analysis to conduct a more complete study. All tissues were embedded in paraffin, sectioned, and stained using standard H&E staining. The tissue was then qualitatively ranked according to the “health” of the seminiferous tubules. Our findings indicate that 7 days of antiorthostatic suspension had adverse effects on the tissue that comprises the walls of the seminiferous tubules. It has long been known that antiorthostatic suspension has deleterious effects on testicular tissue, however this research indicates that these effects occur much faster than indicated by previous researchers. This is a significant finding because it indicates that meaningful earth based studies in this area can be carried out in a shorter time span. This could result in more studies per year as well as saving money by avoiding longer than necessary animal suspensions. This is especially important as we enter an era when, without Space Shuttle, flight opportunities will become scarce. These antiorthostatic suspension studies indicate that space flight, even short duration spaceflight, may have harmful effects on the seminiferous tubules and blood-testis barrier of astronauts.

Assessment of the Long‐Term Stability of Retort Pouch Foods to Support Extended Duration Spaceflight

To determine the suitability of retort processed foods to support long-duration spaceflight, a series of 36-mo accelerated shelf life studies were performed on 13 representative retort pouch products. Combined sensory evaluations, physical properties assessments, and nutritional analyses were employed to determine shelf life endpoints for these foods, which were either observed during the analysis or extrapolated via mathematical projection. Data obtained through analysis of these 13 products were later used to estimate the shelf life values of all retort-processed spaceflight foods. In general, the major determinants of shelf life appear to be the development of off-flavor and off-color in products over time. These changes were assumed to be the result of Maillard and oxidation reactions, which can be initiated or accelerated as a result of the retort process and product formulation. Meat products and other vegetable entrées are projected to maintain their quality the longest, between 2 and 8 y, without refrigeration. Fruit and dessert products (1.5 to 5 y), dairy products (2.5 to 3.25 y), and starches, vegetable, and soup products (1 to 4 y) follow. Aside from considerable losses in B and C vitamin content, nutritional value of most products was maintained throughout shelf life. Fortification of storage-labile vitamins was proposed as a countermeasure to ensure long-term nutritive value of these products. The use of nonthermal sterilization technologies was also recommended, as a means to improve initial quality of these products and extend their shelf life for use in long-duration missions. Data obtained also emphasize the importance of low temperature storage in maintaining product quality. Retort sterilized pouch products are garnering increased commercial acceptance, largely due to their improved convenience and quality over metal-canned products. Assessment of the long-term stability of these products with ambient storage can identify potential areas for improvement, and ultimately increase consumer satisfaction with these technologies.

SIMULATION AS AN APPROACH TO STUDY SURGICAL PATHOLOGY IN WEIGHTLESSNESS

This paper considers the modeling methods of peritonitis and effects of microgravity. We provide information about the probability of disease development in long duration space flight.

A gravity loading countermeasure skinsuit

Despite the use of several countermeasures, significant physiological deconditioning still occurs during long duration spaceflight. Bone loss – primarily due to the absence of loading in microgravity – is perhaps the greatest challenge to resolve. This paper describes a conceptual Gravity Loading Countermeasure Skinsuit (GLCS) that induces loading on the body to mimic standing and – when integrated with other countermeasures – exercising on Earth. Comfort, mobility and other operational issues were explored during a pilot study carried out in parabolic flight for prototype suits worn by three subjects. Compared to the 1- or 2-stage Russian Pingvin Suits, the elastic mesh of the GLCS can create a loading regime that gradually increases in hundreds of stages from the shoulders to the feet, thereby reproducing the weight-bearing regime normally imparted by gravity with much higher resolution. Modelling shows that the skinsuit requires less than 10mmHg (1.3kPa) of compression for three subjects of varied gender, height and mass. Negligible mobility restriction and excellent comfort properties were found during the parabolic flights, which suggests that crewmembers should be able to work normally, exercise or sleep while wearing the suit. The suit may also serve as a practical 1g harness for exercise countermeasures and vibration applications to improve dynamic loading.

A critical benefit analysis of artificial gravity as a microgravity countermeasure

Deconditioning of astronauts during long duration spaceflight, especially with regard to the cardiovascular, musculo-skeletal, and neurological systems, is a well-recognized problem that has stimulated significant investments in countermeasure research over the past five decades. Because of its potential salutary effects on all of these systems, artificial gravity via centrifugation has been one of the most persistently discussed countermeasures; however, to date, few studies have tested its efficacy, particularly in comparison to other, system-specific countermeasures. This paper reports results of a meta-analysis we performed to compare previously published results from artificial gravity studies with those from studies utilizing traditional countermeasures, such as resistive exercise, aerobic exercise, lower body negative pressure (LBNP), or some variation of these countermeasures. Published and non-published literature involving human bed rest and immersion studies, human non-bed rest studies, and flight data were examined. Our analyses were confounded by differences in research design from study to study, including subject selection criteria, deconditioning paradigm, physiological systems assessed, and dependent measures employed. Nevertheless we were able to draw comparisons between studies that had some consistency across these variables. Results indicate that for prolonged spaceflight an artificial gravity-based countermeasure may provide benefits equivalent to traditional countermeasures for the cardiovascular system. Too few comparable studies have been performed to draw any conclusions for the musculo-skeletal system. Gaps in the current knowledge of artificial gravity are identified and provide the basis for a discussion of future topics for ground-based research using this countermeasure.

60 Days of Head-down Bedrest Alters Venous Compliance and Venoconstriction to Phenylephrine in Healthy Men

Hypotension, elevated heart rate, and presyncope are common in astronauts upon standing after long duration space flight, perhaps due to decreased venous return. Data from experimental models suggest that this may be due, in part, to combined changes in venous capacitance and a blunted venoconstrictor response to sympathomimetics. However, this has not been confirmed in humans. PURPOSE: To determine the influence of 60 days of 6° head-down bed rest (BR), a space flight analog, on dorsal hand (DHV) and foot vein (DFV) function in healthy adult men. METHODS: Using 2-D ultrasound, DHV and DFV diameter responses (expressed as mm2) to increasing congestion pressures (20, 30, and 40mmHg) and to an intravenous infusion of phenylephrine (PE; 3160ng/min) were determined in 16 men (age: 34± 2 yr) before (pre-BR) and at days 30 (BR30) and 60 (BR60) of BR. Differences in response between limbs and across BR were determined using mixed-effects linear regression. RESULTS: After 60 days of BR, the pressure response curves and the venoconstrictor effect of PE in the DHV did not change significantly compared to pre-BR. However, the pressure response curves where shifted downward at both BR30 and BR60 in the DFV. By BR60, the DFV responded ∼45% less to 40mmHg of congestion pressure compared pre-BR (p<0.001). Interestingly, the venoconstrictor effect in the DFV was similar to the DHV through RB30, but by BR60, the DFV constricted ∼20% less than the DHV (p=0.036). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that, at least in men, 60 days of BR contributes to a decline in venous compliance in the DFV but not in the DHV. Moreover, the venoconstrictor response to the a-1 agonist PE was also reduced after BR in the DFV compared to the DHV. Taken together, these data suggest that exposure to microgravity results in a decrease in venous compliance which is accompanied by an impaired venous response to sympathetic activation. Such changes in venous function may partially explain the decline in venous return and the increase incidence of orthostatic hypotension following space flight.

Design considerations for sustainable spacecraft water management systems

It is well recognized that water handling systems used in a spacecraft are prone to failure caused by biofouling and mineral scaling, which can clog mechanical systems and degrade the performance of capillary-based technologies. Long duration spaceflight applications, such as extended stays at a Lunar Outpost or during a Mars transit mission, will increasingly benefit from hardware that is generally more robust and operationally sustainable over time. This paper presents design strategies and testing considerations for improving the reliability of water handling technologies. Our application of interest is to devise a spacecraft wastewater management system wherein fouling can be accommodated by design attributes of the management hardware, rather than implementing some means of preventing its occurrence. Two representative boundary applications are presented. The first is a short term application where reduced gravity flight tests demonstrated a static phase separator prototype that achieved nearly 100% separation of gas from liquids under widely varying wetting conditions correlated to anticipated ranges of wastewater fouling. The second is a design concept for a lunar outpost water recovery system where wastewater is allowed to age and form biofilms and precipitates that can be filtered through lunar regolith media as the water is reclaimed. Both applications are supported by similar underlying principles of facilitating sustainable fluid handling in the presence of fouled surfaces.

What are the future top priority questions in cardiovascular research and what new hardware needs to be developed?

The final discussion that took place at the Cardiovascular Workshop in Strasbourg in November 2008 identified the following priorities for our future research and the need to develop new dedicated cardiovascular devices. Knowledge and treatment of cardiovascular deconditioning remain limited. The prospect of very long duration space flights could lead to the emergence of new cardiovascular risks. We need to maintain our efforts to standardize our experimental protocols and analysis equipment. We continue to rely on animal models for cardiovascular research. To continue our studies we recommend developing specific tools for the space environment so that they can be made available to the scientific and medical community.

Intraperitoneal Gas Insufflation Will Be Required for Laparoscopic Visualization in Space: A Comparison of Laparoscopic Techniques in Weightlessness

Laparoscopic surgery (LS) is contemplated during long duration space flight, but it typically necessitates intraabdominal hypertension (IAH) from insufflation to create a surgical domain. Because there are spontaneous changes in abdominal wall behavior in weightlessness (0g) that have been previously suggested to increase LS visualization, we studied the comparative laparoscopic visualization between gasless (noGAS), abdominal wall retraction (AWR), and standard 15 mmHg gas insufflation (GAS) during weightlessness. In-flight LS was performed on four anesthetized pigs during weightlessness obtained through parabolic flight in a research aircraft. GAS was studied during 27 parabolas and compared with 20 parabolas using AWR-LS and 12 with noGAS. Pelvic visualization was scored in real time during flight by 2 or 3 surgeons per parabola and postflight through review of compiled digital video disk (DVD) images by 29 independent reviewers. Physical measurements of the sagittal (anterior-posterior) and transverse dimensions of anesthetized pigs were recorded during 39 parabolas. Despite consistent increases in the sagittal abdominal dimension in weightlessness (GAS and noGAS), on-board scored visualization in 0g was unchanged for noGAS (p=0.78) and decreased during AWR (p=0.09), compared with 1g. Although AWR was considered feasible in 1g, spontaneous visceral movements reduced the surgical domain in 0g. Neither AWR nor noGAS was believed safe. But visualization during GAS in 0g was increased over that in 1g (p < 0.001). Both noGAS and AWR are impractical in weightlessness. Gas insufflation will be required. With insufflation, visualization and perceived ability to perform LS was improved by weightlessness.

Graded Compression Stockings Prevent Post-spaceflight Orthostatic Hypotension

Post-spaceflight orthostatic intolerance is characterized by hypotension and presyncope in 20-30% of returning astronauts. Previous data from our laboratory suggests that this is largely a result of decreased venous return. Currently, NASA astronauts wear an anti-gravity suit (AGS) which consists of inflatable air bladders over the calves, thighs and abdomen, which are typically pressurized from 0.5 to 1.5 PSI (~27 to 78 mmHg). ISS crew members sometimes wear Russian Kentavr suits which consist of laced compression shorts and gaiters, providing ~30 mmHg nominally. While these garments are effective during reentry, there are a number of drawbacks that make them impractical for postflight use. We studied the ability of commercially available, custom fit, graded compression stockings (Jobst, 55 mmHg at ankle to 6 mmHg at top of thigh, 25 mmHg mean compression) to prevent postflight orthostatic intolerance, hypothesizing that these garments would prevent orthostatic intolerance following short duration space flight. Crew members from a single Space Shuttle flight were tilted to 80 degrees for 10 min while wearing the stockings (n=5 males) upon arrival at the clinic (~2 hrs after landing). Hemodynamic data were compared to data from all crewmembers tilted (without countermeasures) since return to flight (n=9). Two-way, repeated measures ANOVA, using the entire tilt time curve (0-10 min) show that systolic blood pressure (SBP, group effect p=0.008), stroke volume (SV, group effect p=0.003), and cardiac output (CO, group effect p=0.004) were higher in crewmembers who wore the Jobst stockings. A one-way ANOVA comparing the last minute standing also showed that SV (p=0.001) and CO (p less than 0.001) were higher and SBP tended to be higher (p=0.06) in Jobst subjects compared to controls. Control subjects had a higher rate of presyncope than Jobst subjects (3/9 vs 0/5) during the tilt on landing day. Orthostatic hypotension continues to present following spaceflight, despite fluid loading and other countermeasures. This preliminary study shows that commercially available compression stockings may ameliorate this problem. These stockings are readily available, inexpensive, and can be worn for days following landing. We have observed similar protection against orthostatic intolerance in ground-based studies of hypovolemic test subjects. Further refinements to the design and compression of the stockings are in progress.

Cardiovascular autonomic control after short-duration spaceflights

After spaceflight, astronauts sometimes suffer a variable degree of reduced orthostatic tolerance. Although many studies have addressed this problem, many aspects remain unclear. Also, it is unknown how long the cardiovascular system needs to recover from short duration spaceflights. The scope of the present study was to determine a long-term follow-up of cardiovascular control up to 25 days after spaceflight under control conditions in five astronauts using heart rate variability, blood pressure variability and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) indices. In standing position heart rate after spaceflight was significantly higher compared with pre-flight (R+1: 99 (SD 9) BPM vs L-30: 77 (SD 3) BPM; p<0.001). At the same time high frequency modulation of heart rate was extremely depressed (R+1: 70 (SD 334) ms 2 vs L-30: 271 (SD 68) ms 2; p<0.01), as was BRS: (R+1: 5 (SD 1) vs L-30: 10 (SD 2) ms/mmHg, p<0.05). These changes had largely recovered after 4 days upon return to Earth. Orthostatic blood pressure control was well maintained from the first day after landing. The decrease in BRS and in vagal heart rate modulation following short-duration spaceflight appear to constitute an adequate autonomic neural response to restored gravity. After 4 days upon return to Earth, vagal heart rate modulation is almost completely recovered to the pre-flight level. The findings of the present study demonstrate that the decrease in vagal heart rate modulation in standing position should not be characterised as some kind of cardiovascular deconditioning, but rather as the normal response to orthostatic stress after spaceflight.

Short‐term hindlimb unloading induces translocation of nNOS from the sarcolemma to sarcoplasm in skeletal muscle

Long duration spaceflight missions cause skeletal muscle atrophy in astronauts. We hypothesize that neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase (nNOS) and dystrophin translocate from the sarcolemma to the sarcoplasm following 48‐hrs of simulated microgravity as compared to ground controls. Eight Fisher‐344 rats underwent 48‐hour simulated microgravity using the well established hindlimb unloading model, and eight rats were used as ground controls. Hindlimb muscles were carefully dissected, snapped frozen, and stored for analysis. Cryostat sections of soleus muscle (10 micrometer thick), were prepared for immunohistochemical analysis of nNOS and dystrophin localization. Hindlimb unloading induced translocalization of nNOS from the sarcolemma to the sarcoplasm. However, dystrophin was localized at the sarcolemma in the hindlimb unloaded group. Both nNOS and dystrophin were localized to the sarcolemma in the ground control group. These data are the first to demonstrate that nNOS delocalizes from the sarcolema during short‐term hindlimb unloading (48‐hrs). Future studies should investigate the localization of other dystroglycan proteins such as B1‐syntrophin and alpha‐dystrobrevin. Supported by the Texas A&amp;M University Training Grant in Space Life Sciences with funding from NSBRI (NASA NCC 9‐58).

Adaptation of heart rate and blood pressure to short and long duration space missions

To what extent does going to space affect cardiovascular function? Although many studies have addressed this question, the answer remains controversial. Even for such primary parameters as heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) contradictory results have been presented. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate HR and arterial BP in 11 male astronauts who each took part in nine different space missions aboard the International Space Station (ISS), for up to 6 months. Pre-flight HR and BP readings were obtained in both the standing and supine positions on Earth and were taken as reference values. Our results show that HR and arterial BP in space equal pre-flight supine values. In all subjects, HR and mean arterial BP (MAP) were lower in space compared with pre-flight standing (both p<0.05). HR in space was well maintained at pre-flight supine level for up to 6 months in all astronauts while MAP tended to adapt to a level in between the ground-based standing and supine positions. Also pulse pressure (PP) decreased over the course of long duration spaceflight. In conclusion, our data indicate that weightlessness relaxes the circulation in humans for an extended duration of up to 6 months in space.

Severe traumatic injury during long duration spaceflight: Light years beyond ATLS.

Traumatic injury strikes unexpectedly among the healthiest members of the human population, and has been an inevitable companion of exploration throughout history. In space flight beyond the Earth's orbit, NASA considers trauma to be the highest level of concern regarding the probable incidence versus impact on mission and health. Because of limited resources, medical care will have to focus on the conditions most likely to occur, as well as those with the most significant impact on the crew and mission. Although the relative risk of disabling injuries is significantly higher than traumatic deaths on earth, either issue would have catastrophic implications during space flight. As a result this review focuses on serious life-threatening injuries during space flight as determined by a NASA consensus conference attended by experts in all aspects of injury and space flight.In addition to discussing the impact of various mission profiles on the risk of injury, this manuscript outlines all issues relevant to trauma during space flight. These include the epidemiology of trauma, the pathophysiology of injury during weightlessness, pre-hospital issues, novel technologies, the concept of a space surgeon, appropriate training for a space physician, resuscitation of injured astronauts, hemorrhage control (cavitary and external), surgery in space (open and minimally invasive), postoperative care, vascular access, interventional radiology and pharmacology.Given the risks and isolation inherent in long duration space flight, a well trained surgeon and/or surgical capability will be required onboard any exploration vessel. More specifically, a broadly-trained surgically capable emergency/critical care specialist with innate capabilities to problem-solve and improvise would be desirable. It will be the ultimate remote setting, and hopefully one in which the most advanced of our societies' technologies can be pre-positioned to safeguard precious astronaut lives. Like so many previous space-related technologies, these developments will also greatly improve terrestrial care on earth.

WISE-2005: effect of aerobic and resistive exercises on orthostatic tolerance during 60 days bed rest in women

Cardiovascular deconditioning after long duration spaceflight is especially challenging in women who have a lower orthostatic tolerance (OT) compared with men. We hypothesized that an exercise prescription, combining supine aerobic treadmill exercise in a lower body negative pressure (LBNP) chamber followed by 10 min of resting LBNP, three to four times a week, and flywheel resistive training every third day would maintain orthostatic tolerance (OT) in women during a 60-day head-down-tilt bed rest (HDBR). Sixteen women were assigned to two groups (exercise, control). Pre and post HDBR OT was assessed with a tilt/LBNP test until presyncope. OT time (mean +/- SE) decreased from 17.5 +/- 1.0 min to 9.1 +/- 1.5 min (-50 +/- 6%) in control group (P < 0.001) and from 19.3 +/- 1.3 min to 13.0 +/- 1.9 min (-35 +/- 7%) in exercise group (P < 0.001), with no significant difference in OT time between the two groups after HDBR (P = 0.13). Nevertheless, compared with controls post HDBR, exercisers had a lower heart rate during supine rest (mean +/- SE, 71 +/- 3 vs. 85 +/- 4, P < 0.01), a slower increase in heart rate and a slower decrease in stroke volume over the course of tilt/LBNP test (P < 0.05). Blood volume (mean +/- SE) decreased in controls (-9 +/- 2%, P < 0.01) but was maintained in exercisers (-4 +/- 3%, P = 0.17).Our results suggest that the combined exercise countermeasure did not significantly improve OT but protected blood volume and cardiovascular response to sub tolerance levels of orthostatic stress.

Abstract 2197: The Multi-System Effect of Exercise Training During Prolonged Bed Rest Deconditioning: An Integrated Approach to Countermeasure Development for the Heart, Lungs, Muscle and Bones

We propose to prevent the cardiac atrophy and orthostatic intolerance associated with prolonged bed rest using rowing ergometry/resistance training with aggressive volume loading on the day of testing. We hypothesize that prevention of cardiac atrophy will forestall cardiovascular deconditioning, leading to preserved exercise capacity and orthostatic tolerance. Twenty-four healthy subjects, ages 20 –55, were enrolled with 8 randomized to training (EX), 8 with training and volume loading (VOL), and 8 as sedentary (SED) controls. Testing included maximal upright exercise, orthostatic tolerance via graded lower body negative pressure (LBNP), cardiac MRI, as well as invasive cardiac pressure-volume measurements, performed at baseline and at the end of 5 weeks of 6° head down bedrest. Upright exercise capacity was preserved with training as measured by peak workrate and VO2max (EX/VOL: pre 195±46W, 34±7 ml/kg/min; post 202±42W, 33±4 ml/kg/min) but deteriorated in SED group (pre 171±55W, 34±8 ml/kg/min; post 145±51W, 27±7 ml/kg/min). MRI derived mass (% change: +6.3±9.9% EX/VOL vs. −5.5±3.7% SED) was increased by training. Exercise training appears to preserve LV chamber compliance (stiffness constants: EX/VOL: pre= 0.035±0.021, post = 0.036±0.029; SED: pre= 0.020±0.011, post = 0.028±0.007). Training also preserves hemodynamic variables measured at −40mmHg of LBNP, including stroke volume (EX: pre 44±12; post 38±9 ml, VOL: pre 49±30; post 45±29 ml, SED: pre 35±5; post 24±8 ml ). These preliminary data support our hypothesis that an optimized training program consisting of dynamic and resistance exercise can prevent part of the multisystem atrophy and orthostatic intolerance associated with prolonged bed rest. This defines a specific countermeasure that is practical, safe, and effective against the cardiovascular, muscle and bone deconditioning associated with prolonged bed rest. This information is relevant not only for astronauts exposed to long duration spaceflight, but also for patients with chronic reductions in physical activity, and those with disease processes that alter cardiac stiffness such as obesity, hypertension, heart failure or ischemic heart disease, plus normal aging and osteoporosis. This research has received full or partial funding support from the American Heart Association, AHA South Central Affiliate (Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma &amp; Texas).

The effect of head turn velocity on cross-coupled stimulation during centrifugation

Short-radius centrifugation (SRC) provides a practical means of producing artificial gravity for long duration space flights, though perceptual side-effects could limit its operational feasibility. Head turns (HT) during SRC, other than those about the centrifugation axis, produce Cross-Coupled Stimulation (CCS), perceived as a tumbling sensation. CCS can be nauseagenic, though adaptation can minimize this detrimental effect over time. The force environment of CCS suggests that the head turn velocity plays a role in determining the stimulus magnitude, though its degree has not been characterized. Twenty-three subjects performed right quadrant head turns of 8 different velocities while spinning at 19 and 23 RPMs on the SRC over two consecutive days. The perceptual effects were characterized by subjective metrics, investigating the acute differences between velocities as well as the chronic effects on adaptation. It was found that the perceived CCS magnitude can be regulated by modulating HT velocity. Further, a threshold of HT velocity exists above which an asymptotic perceptual response is observed, and below which the perceptual response diminishes at an exponential rate relative to head turn velocity. Finally, the effects of HT velocity are independent of HT direction, though the differing head turn directions likely produce contextually specific stimuli. These results suggest that HT velocity modulation could provide a practical means of incremental adaptation to CCS during SRC.

Vestibular adaptation to centrifugation does not transfer across planes of head rotation

Out-of-plane head movements performed during fast rotation produce non-compensatory nystagmus, sensations of illusory motion, and often motion sickness. Adaptation to this cross-coupled Coriolis stimulus has previously been demonstrated for head turns made in the yaw (transverse) plane of motion, during supine head-on-axis rotation. An open question, however, is if adaptation to head movements in one plane of motion transfers to head movements performed in a new, unpracticed plane of motion. Evidence of transfer would imply the brain builds up a generalized model of the vestibular sensory-motor system, instead of learning a variety of individual input/output relations separately. To investigate, over two days 9 subjects performed pitch head turns (sagittal plane) while rotating, before and after a series of yaw head turns while rotating. A Control Group of 10 subjects performed only the pitch movements. The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) and sensations of illusory motion were recorded in the dark for all movements. Upon comparing the two groups we failed to find any evidence of transfer from the yaw plane to the pitch plane, suggesting that adaptation to cross-coupled stimuli is specific to the particular plane of head movement. The findings have applications for the use of centrifugation as a possible countermeasure for long duration spaceflight. Adapting astronauts to unconstrained head movements while rotating will likely require exposure to head movements in all planes and directions.

Space motion sickness: The sensory motor controls and cardiovascular correlation

Space motion sickness: The sensory motor controls and cardiovascular correlation