Search Results

As part of the preparation of long duration manned spaceflights, ESA started in 1990 a series of ground-based simulations aimed at evaluating the physiological and psychological issues of living in confined conditions for limited and constrained communities. The last campaign, called HUBES took place at IBMP (Institute for Biomedical Problems), Moscow, from September 1994 to Mid-January 1995. During 135 days, a crew of 3 Russian members was placed in living / working conditions simulating a long duration flight on board the Russian MIR station. During this period, an experiment was held to study the crewmembers' food intake. This paper presents the main features of the food system implemented as well as the scientific findings.

In 1994, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the French Space Agency (CNES) organized a long-term weightlessness simulation based on bed-rest; this experimental campaign was contracted for its execution to the Institute of Space Medicine and Physiology (MEDES). Height healthy male subjects participated in this experiment and stayed in bed-rest in a head-down tilt position (-6° vs. horizontal) during 42 days. During this experiment, the responses of several physiological systems to weightlessness simulation were studied: i.e. cardiovascular system, renal function, adaptations to exercise, muscle tissues, bone, immune system and metabolism.

A study on Hygiene in long duration space missions was held between 1988-1989 for ESA Long Term Programme Office (1), (2). The impact of Hygiene on station contamination and station layout was reviewed as well as psychological, social and cultural aspects, leading to the conclusion that hygiene is a key habitability issue. Among its main results, the study highlighted the importance of water in both environmental and personal hygiene: the use of water in body hygiene is culturally and socially established. As a consequence, water was found as the main consumable in hygiene functions. Thus, due to the limited water availability in space stations, particular attention was paid to on board water management. Simulation software was developed to demonstrate the relation between hygiene subsystems concepts and water requirements. The software was designed as a tool. Parameters allow to define various mission profiles.