ASTRONAUTS on board the future International Space Station could have instant
feedback on the state of their muscle tone, sleep patterns and bone strength if
NASA approves a Russian programme of constant monitoring. 鈥淲e want to have the
data processed immediately on board so they can see themselves as active
participants,鈥� says Irina Ponomareva, a researcher at the Institute for
Biomedical Problems (IBMP) in Moscow.
The IBMP has built up the world鈥檚 largest collection of data on the effects
of long-term spaceflight. Russia has had cosmonauts in orbit, aboard various
space stations, for the past twenty years, and each cosmonaut has been tested at
the IBMP before and after spending time in space.
Inessa Koslovskaya of the IBMP says NASA has been unwilling to rely on the
Russian research: 鈥淯ntil they get information for themselves, it doesn鈥檛 exist.鈥�
Americans aboard Mir do follow the Russian exercise programme, however.
Cosmonauts are told to spend about two hours each day on a treadmill, strapped
down with a force equivalent to about 70 per cent of their body weight on Earth.
The Russians say intense exercise helps to prevent muscle atrophy, reduces bone
loss and keeps the immune system in good working order.
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Koslovskaya says that during long, monotonous months in orbit, the body鈥檚
normal 鈥渇ight or flight鈥� responses are deadened. This can make it difficult for
cosmonauts to respond to emergencies in orbit, or to disease back on Earth.
John Uri, NASA鈥檚 mission scientist for Mir, says the exercise regime does
seem to help. 鈥淲e were very concerned about the health of our astronauts,鈥� he
says. 鈥淏ut they鈥檝e come back and they aren鈥檛 like jellyfish.鈥�