Assessment of Programs in Space Biology and Medicine--1991 (1991) / Chapter Skim
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SUMMARY
Pages 1-9
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Space biology and medicine includes -- in addition to biological and medical subdisciplines -- human behavior, radiation, and closed ecological life support systems. The Goldberg Strategy defined four major goals: 1.
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Finally, the report contains sections on developmental and cell biology, human reproduction, plant biology, and issues associated with the development of a closed ecological life support system. The latter topics reflect areas that, while not deemed crucial to survival in space for durations of a few years, could become critical to longer term human habitation.
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RESEARCH IN SPACE BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE Human Physiology There has been a general perception that since a small number of Soviet cosmonauts have survived in the microgravity of space in low earth orbit for as long as a year, there are no major physiological problems likely to preclude longer term human exploration beyond low earth orbit. The committee has had, over the years, access to anecdotal data from the Soviet space program.
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to factors such as diminished bone mass and increased urinary calcium have also proven to be useful models for potential changes during extended spaceflight. However, of the eight major goals listed above, only the first has been addressed in these studies, and the information that has been obtained using the animal model chosen (rat)
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An expanded effort to investigate possible immune deficiencies coupled with the development of cell models to test immune and bone cell function in microgravity requires a higher priority. Sensorimotor Integration As indicated in the Goldberg report, the neuronal mechanisms underlying a sense of spatial orientation are complex, as yet poorly understood, and are directly relevant to assuring the effective functioning of humans involved in space missions.
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At this point in time, NASA has no plans to develop long-term confinement studies using ground-based research settings. Developmental and Cell Biology The major goal for developmental biology as outlined in all three research strategies is to determine whether any organism can develop from fertilization through the formation of viable gametes in the next generation, i.e., from egg to egg, in the microgravity environment of space.
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Plant Biology Any strategy that visualizes a long-term sustained human presence in space absolutely requires the ability to continuously grow and reproduce various plant species over multiple generations. A related goal, which has implications for agriculture generally, is to understand the mechanism(s)
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The likely longterm biological effects of exposure to HZE particles is an increased incidence of cancer and brain damage. NASA has maintained a limited but ongoing research program both in radiation dosimetry and radiobiology including ground-based programs on the effect of fragmentation of HZE particles and on the secondary particles.
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balance -- the need for a well- balanced research program in terms of ground versus flight, basic versus clinical, and internal versus extramural; (2) excellence -- because of the extremely limited number of flight opportunities (as well as their associated relative costs)
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