One way or another, life on our planet owes its origin to a combination of cosmic and planetary conditions, and now, as a result of a long evolution and in the person of its representative, man, it itself goes directly into the Universe. Such, apparently, is the regularity of the development of life, which no longer refers to the past, but to the future. Space, planet and space again - this is the universal cycle of life, now demonstrated by mankind. Life born on Earth, going beyond the planet, thereby reveals its cosmic striving. Such is the "evolutionary" meaning of the cosmic age we are experiencing.
Terrestrial microorganisms can be found at altitudes up to 100 kilometers. This milestone marks the limit of the natural expansion of earthly life towards outer space. However, with the help of rocket and space technology, that is, "artificially", a person not only goes into space himself, but also takes animals and plants with him. At the beginning (and this is already being done) the impact of space flight conditions on representatives of earthly life is studied, and in the future, the development of a new living space, its habitation, is to be done.
The goals of biological experiments in space are multifaceted, they serve to solve such practical problems of astronautics as determining the degree of danger of orbital flight for a living being (including, of course, man himself), determining and creating the possibility of including plants in the life support system, using them in space flights in as sinks of carbon dioxide, suppliers of oxygen and food. In addition, space bioexperiments have a fundamental scientific significance. For example, they help to find out the influence of radiation and weightlessness on one of the mysterious mechanisms of the living - the genetic code, on the "record" of hereditary traits transmitted from parents to children, from one living organism to another.
Undoubtedly, studies of the behavior of organisms in a prolonged state of weightlessness are also important for both practice and science. Under terrestrial conditions, such a state can only be simulated (say, astronauts in space suits train in an aquatic environment) or partially created for only a few minutes (training in a steeply descending, "falling" aircraft). Scientists believe that, having known the reaction of living things to weightlessness, it is possible to experimentally reveal the role of gravity in the origin and development of life on Earth, that is, to solve the most important scientific and ideological problem - to test the very cosmological hypothesis of gravity as a determinant of the main stages in the development of life, about which we spoke.
Biological experiments in space are a delicate and very specific matter. Let's start with the fact that such experiments are often carried out without the direct participation of researchers, on automatic satellites. For this, complex and at the same time as light and compact equipment as possible is used - this is an indispensable requirement for launching a payload into orbit. For higher animals, for example, are created automatic systems, supplying oxygen for breathing, food and drink, removing waste products. The first living creature to leave the planet was the dog Laika, launched in 1957 on the second Soviet satellite, a month after the launch of the famous first Sputnik. The dogs were also launched after, returning already alive and healthy. And in 1983 and 1985, monkeys flew into space and also safely returned to Earth.
So far, cosmonauts do not take higher animals with them on manned flights. Complicated and very difficult space experiments on living material. In the ship, with its weightlessness, you can't lay out tools, experimental animals or even plants on the table, you can't arrange jars with nutrient, germinating and fixing solutions. Before you have time to look back, all this will be in the air, scattered throughout the compartment. And this is not only a failure of experience, but also a threat to the entire flight program, and perhaps to the health of the crew members. The smallest drops of liquid suspended in the air can get into the respiratory tract of a person, disrupt the operation of complex equipment. And not all substances here can be kept in open vessels. Those that are even slightly harmful to humans (and biologists often have to deal with such substances) require strict sealing. To this it must be added that the work of cosmonauts, even in long, months-long flights, is scheduled literally by the minute; in addition to biological, they perform many other programs. Hence - one more indispensable requirement for all experiments: the maximum simplicity of operations.
About how scientists unravel this tangle of contradictions between the objectives of the study and the severely restrictive conditions for its implementation, as put interesting experiences, we will tell on the example of experiments with a fruit fly - Drosophila.
These insects, veterans of cosmobiological research, started in biosatellites, in manned spacecraft, traveled to the moon and back on automatic probes "Zond". Keeping flies in space does not cause much trouble. They do not need special blocks with a life support system. They feel quite well in an ordinary test tube, at the bottom of which a little nutrient broth is poured.
At the Salyut stations, experiments with Drosophila were carried out in special thermostats at a constant, strictly controlled temperature. The biocontainer, intended for experiments on developing larvae and pupae, consists of four plastic test tubes inserted into the sockets of a rectangular foam plastic stand. The test tubes are placed in a thermostat, which automatically maintains a temperature of +25 degrees. This instrument, which was flown on the Soyuz and Salyuts, is light and compact, and does not require any special actions or observations in flight. Upon completion of the experiment, when one generation of flies has been grown, the biocontainer is removed from the thermostat and sent to the Earth in the next transport ship.
However, it is much more interesting to get several generations of fruit flies in weightlessness: it would turn out to be real “ethereal creatures”, if we use the terminology of Tsiolkovsky, which not only develop, but are also born in space. And it's not a matter of terminology, but of experimental confirmation of one of the most daring hypotheses of the Kaluga scientist.
For experiments of this kind, another device was created. It is a plastic cube with a face about 10 centimeters long, assembled from sections with a nutrient medium and doors between them. During the flight, the cosmonauts take this cube out of the thermostat at the right time and open access to the second section for the insects in the first section. The flies lay eggs on the new "living space", giving life to the next generation. Purely cosmic larvae emerge from such testicles. They, in turn, turn into pupae, then into flies, which are transferred to the next compartment of the device and there they hatch the next cosmic offspring.
This is exactly what happened in reality. Living creatures, even if only fruit flies so far, are able to live and reproduce outside the Earth. This important and promising conclusion, made on the basis of a space experiment, proves that life and space are not contraindicated for each other.
Municipal budgetary educational institution
basic comprehensive school №8
Regional competition "Cosmonautics"
Nomination "Space biology and medicine"
"Man and Space: Biological and Medical Research in Space"
Work completed
Vinichenko Natalya Vasilievna
math and physics teacher
city of Donetsk, Rostov region
2016
Introduction Space biology and medicine - a complex science that studies the features of the life of a person and other organisms in a space flight. The main task of research in the field of space biology and medicine is the development of means and methods for life support, maintaining the health and performance of crew members of spacecraft and stations during flights of various durations and degrees of complexity. Space biology and medicine is inextricably linked with astronautics, astronomy, astrophysics, geophysics, biology, aviation medicine and many other sciences.
The relevance of the topic is quite large in our modern and fast-paced XXI century.
The topic "Medical and biological research in space" interested us and we decided to do research work on this topic.
2016 is an anniversary year - 55 years since the first human flight into space. From ancient times, man was attracted and attracted to the starry sky. Dream of creation aircraft found its reflection in myths, legends and tales of almost all peoples of the world. The man really wanted to fly. At first he decided to make himself wings, like those of a bird. He climbed higher into the mountains and jumped down with such wings. But as a result, he only broke his arms and legs, but this did not make a person give up his dream. And he came up with a metal bird with fixed wings and called it an airplane. Years passed, modern aviation developed. Its development is a whole story with many beautiful and very interesting pages of science. Expeditions go to all ends of the Earth. Scientists seek, find and re-explore the unknown in order to give it to people. Having penetrated into space, people have discovered not just a new space, a huge, unusual world has been opened, similar to an unknown continent. Unique conditions - vacuum, weightlessness, low temperatures - created new branches of science and production.
Our remarkable scientist K. E. Tsiolkovsky said:
“... Humanity will not remain forever on Earth, but in the pursuit of light and space, it will first timidly penetrate beyond the atmosphere, and then conquer all the circumsolar space.”
Now we are witnessing how the prophetic words of the scientist come true. The rapid development of science and technology made it possible to put into orbit in October 1957 the first artificial satellite of the Earth. In 1961, for the first time, man stepped out of his "cradle" into the vast expanses of the universe. And four years later he went beyond the threshold of the spacecraft and looked at the Earth, from the side, through the thin glass of the spacesuit. Thus began the space age of mankind, began the exploration of space, began the formation of a new special profession - an astronaut. The beginning of this profession was laid by the flight of the first cosmonaut of the planet Yu. A. Gagarin.
An astronaut is a person who tests and works on space technology in space.
An astronaut is an explorer. Every day in orbit is experimental work in the space laboratory.
The astronaut plays the role of a biologist, observing living organisms.
An astronaut is a medic when involved in medical research on the health of crew members.
An astronaut is a builder, an installer.
Scientists are convinced that living beings can live in zero gravity. The path to space was open. And Gagarin's flight proved that a person can rise into space and return unharmed to Earth.
Start. Medico-biological research in the middle of the XX century.
The following milestones are considered the starting points in the development of space biology and medicine: 1949 - for the first time, the possibility of conducting biological research during rocket flights appeared; 1957 - for the first time a living creature (the dog Laika) was sent to a near-Earth orbital flight on the second artificial Earth satellite; 1961 - the first manned flight into space, made by Yu. A. Gagarin. With the aim of scientific justification the possibilities of a medically safe flight of a person into space, the tolerance of the impacts characteristic of the launch, orbital flight, descent and landing of spacecraft on Earth was studied, as well as the operation of biotelemetric equipment and life support systems for astronauts was tested. The main attention was paid to studying the effect of weightlessness and cosmic radiation on the body. Laika (dog astronaut) 1957R The results obtained in the course of biological experiments on rockets, the second artificial satellite (1957), rotated spacecraft-satellites (1960-1961), in combination with data from ground-based clinical, physiological, psychological, hygienic and other studies, actually opened the way man into space. In addition, biological experiments in space at the stage of preparation for the first human space flight made it possible to identify a number of functional changes that occur in the body under the influence of flight factors, which was the basis for planning subsequent experiments on animal and plant organisms during flights of manned spacecraft, orbital stations and biosatellites. . The world's first biological satellite with an experimental animal - the dog "Laika". Launched into orbit on 11/03/1957 and stayed there for 5 months. The satellite existed in orbit until April 14, 1958. The satellite had two radio transmitters, a telemetry system, a programming device, scientific instruments for studying solar radiation and cosmic rays, regeneration and thermal control systems to maintain conditions in the cabin necessary for the existence of the animal. The first scientific information about the state of a living organism in space flight conditions has been obtained.
Few people know that before sending a man into space, numerous experiments were carried out on animals in order to identify the effects of weightlessness, radiation, long-term flight and other factors on a living organism. Animals made their first flights into the stratosphere. On the first flight in a balloon, a man sent a ram, a rooster and a duck. From 1951 to 1960, a series of experiments were carried out to study the reaction of a living organism to overloads, vibrations and weightlessness during launches of geophysical rockets. In the second series of launches in 1954-1956. to a height of 110 km, the purpose of the experiments was to test spacesuits for animals in conditions of cabin depressurization. Animals in space suits were ejected: one dog - from a height of 75-86 km, the second - from a height of 39-46 km.Flights with animals have not stopped today. Flights into space of animals and now provide a lot of useful information. Thus, the flight of the Bion-M satellite with various living organisms on board, which lasted one month, provided a lot of material for studying the effects of radiation and prolonged weightlessness on the vital activity of an organism.
EUwhether before scientists were interested in the effects of overloads and cosmic radiation on living organisms, now the focus is on the functioning of the nervous and immune systems. No less important is the study of the influence of space flight factors on the regenerative and reproductive functions of the body. Of particular interest is the task of recreating full cycle biological reproduction under conditions of weightlessness. Why?Sooner or later, we are waiting for settlements in space and ultra-long flights to other stars.
But before the space flights succeeded, 18 dogs died during the tests. Their deaths were not useless. It was only thanks to animals that space flights became possible for humans. And no one doubts that space is necessary for people today. Before the first long flight for 18 days, Nikolaev and Sevastyanov sent the dogs Veterok and Ugolyok into space for 22 days. Interestingly, only mutts have always been sent into space. Cause? More smart and hardy than their thoroughbred counterparts. Veterok and Ugolyok returned from space completely naked. That is, without the hair that remained in the ill-fitting spacesuits, on which the dogs rubbed all these endless days. It is shown that the main environmental factor observed in the body shifts in space flight is weightlessness. However, it does not cause gene and chromosomal mutations, the mechanism of cell division, as a rule, is not disturbed by natural science.
On March 22, 1990, a quail that broke through the shell of a mottled gray-brown egg in a special space incubator was the first living creature born in space. It was a sensation! The ultimate goal of experiments with Japanese quails in weightlessness is the creation of a life support system for spacecraft crews during extra long interplanetary space flights. A container with 48 quail eggs went to the Mir orbital station with a cargo ship, which the astronauts carefully placed in the space "nest". The wait was tense, but exactly on the 17th day the first spotted testicle burst in orbit. A new space inhabitant weighing only 6 grams pecked the shell. To the delight of biologists, the same thing happened in the control hatchery on Earth. The first chicken was followed by a second, a third... Healthy, nimble, they responded well to sound and light, had a pecking reflex. However, it is not enough to be born in space, you need to adapt to its harsh conditions. Alas...
Quaillings could not adapt to weightlessness. They, like fluffs, flew chaotically inside the cabin, unable to cling to the bars. Due to the lack of fixation of the body in space, they were unable to feed themselves and subsequently died. However, 3 chicks returned to Earth, having also survived the flight back. But, according to biologists, the main thing was proved in this experiment - weightlessness did not turn out to be an insurmountable obstacle to the development of the organism.
Before the flight of people into space in order to study biological impact space travel to orbital and suborbital flights into outer space launched some animals, including numerous monkeys closest to humans in terms of physiology. In the process of preparing for the flights, scientists found out that the monkeys for flight in space master the task in just 2 months and really surpass people in some ways. For example, in the speed of reaction. It took the monkey 19 minutes to complete the target-extinguishing exercise. And a person for the same task - an hour! Tests during the flight of rockets and the first artificial earth satellites opened the way for man into space and largely predetermined the development of manned astronautics. The following changes were found: cell inactivation; the appearance of gene and chromosomal mutations; the occurrence of potential damage, which only after some time is realized in a mutation; disruption of mitosis.
All this indicates that space flight factors are capable of causing the entire amount of genetic changes in chromosomes. Achievements in the field of space biology and medicine have made a significant contribution to solving the problems of general biology and medicine. Space biology has had a great influence on ecology, primarily human ecology and the study of the relationship between life processes and abiotic factors environment. Space biology work is carried out on various types of living organisms, from viruses to mammals. More than 56, and in the USA more than 36 types of biological objects have already been used for research in outer space in the USSR.
This biological research has a long history going back over the past 40 years, where NASA and Russia have been collaborating throughout this time, which is quite remarkable," says Nicole Raul, head of NASA's part of the project. While the project is run by Roscosmos, an international team of scientists oversees the experiments The Bion-M1 is Russia's first mission dedicated to launching animals into space in 17 years.The last Bion mission sent rhesus monkeys, geckos and amphibians into orbit for 15 days in 1996.
The Bion-M1 is designed to help scientists understand how long-duration spaceflight can affect astronauts. "The unique nature of this mission is that it's a 30-day mission. Most other missions haven't sent animals into space for that long," says Raul. "It's important to us that we get data that compares to what we already have." One of NASA's experiments looks at how microgravity and radiation affect sperm motility in mice. to see if they will be able to reproduce in space.Some missions may take decades, so space reproduction may be a necessity.While a NASA scientist will study sperm motility in mice, there is no chance the animals will mate during flight. therefore, only males were selected for this trip.In addition to the Bion-M scientific apparatus, the Soyuz-2.1a rocket will launch six small satellites into orbit, including the Russian AIST, the American Dove-2, the South Korean satellite G.O.D.Sat, the German BeeSat-2 , Beesat-3 and SOMP.
During the Soyuz-13 flight, the influence of space flight factors on the development of lower plants - chlorella and duckweed - was studied. The developmental features of two types of microorganisms - hydrogen bacteria and urobacteria - were studied under weightlessness and a protein mass was obtained as a result of the experiment for subsequent analysis of its biochemical composition. Interplanetary travel can become a reality only when reliable closed-loop life-support systems are in place. The performed experiments contributed to the solution of this problem. difficult problem. On board the Soyuz-13, the closed ecological system Oasis-2 operated - a biological and technical system for cultivating certain types of microorganisms. This installation consisted of two cylinders, fermenters for microorganisms, in which there was a liquid and a gas that passed from one cylinder to another. In one of the fermenters, hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria were placed - microorganisms used as an energy source for growth, mainly free hydrogen obtained as a result of the electrolysis of water. In another fermenter, there were urobacteria capable of decomposing urea. They absorbed the oxygen formed in the first cylinder and released carbon dioxide. In turn, carbon dioxide was used by hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria to synthesize biomass. Thus, a closed system operated, there was a constant recovery of two types of microorganisms. The system was completely isolated from the ship’s atmosphere, but in principle, microorganisms could just as well absorb carbon dioxide from the cabin atmosphere, and the biomass could serve as food for astronauts. The mass samples taken by the crew members were brought back to Earth for careful study. The biomass of microbial culture in the Oasis-2 system increased by more than 35 times during the flight. The results of this experiment were an important step towards the creation of new life support systems.
Stage 1 biological research .
In 1940-1950, flights of dogs were carried out in order to study: Airtightness of the cabin. Methods of ejection and parachuting from a great height. The biological effect of cosmic radiation
Conclusion: Tolerability of highly organized animal modes of acceleration during rocket flight and in a state of dynamic weightlessness up to 20 minutes
2nd stage of research. Long flight of the dog Laika on the Soviet AES-2.
Stage 3 biological research associated with the creation of spacecraft-satellites (SCS), which made it possible to dramatically expand the "crew" of new biological objectsdogs, rats, mice, guinea pigs, frogs, fruit flies, higher plants (tradescantia, seeds of wheat, peas, onions, corn, nigella, seedlings of plants in different stages of development), on snail caviar, unicellular algae (chlorella), culture human and animal tissues, bacterial cultures, viruses, phages, some enzymes.
research programs on the track Earth - Moon - Earth
Research was carried out by stations of the 3ond series from September 1968 to October. Stations placed turtles, fruit flies, onions, plant seeds, various strains of chlorella, E. coli
Studied the effect of radiation of ionizing radiation.
As a result, a large number of rearrangements of chromosomes were noted in pine and barley seeds, an increase in the number of mutants - in chlorella. Salmonella has become more aggressive.A complex of experiments with various biological objects (seeds, higher plants, frog eggs, microorganisms, etc.) was carried out on the Soviet satellite Kosmos-368 (1970).
As a result of biological studies, it has been established that a person can live and work in space flight conditions for a relatively long time.
Since humanity is going to start colonizing the Moon and other space bodies of our solar system in the relatively near future, then, most likely, you would like to know about the risks and health problems that space colonists may with a certain degree of probability manifest?
Research has shown the 10 most likely health problems that the pioneers of the era of human space colonization will have to face (if we do not solve them by now).
Heart problems
A Western medical study and observation of 12 astronauts showed that with prolonged exposure to microgravity, the human heart becomes 9.4 percent more spherical, which in turn can cause a variety of problems with its work. This problem can become especially urgent during long-term space travel, for example, to Mars.
"The heart in space works very differently from how it works in Earth's gravity, which in turn can lead to the loss of its muscle mass," says Dr. James Thomas of NASA.
“All of this will have serious consequences after returning to Earth, so we are currently looking for possible ways to avoid or at least reduce this loss of muscle mass.”
Experts note that after returning to Earth, the heart takes on its original form, but no one knows how one of the most important organs of our body will behave after long flights. Doctors are already aware of cases when returning astronauts experienced dizziness and disorientation. In some cases, there is a sharp change in blood pressure (there is a sharp decrease in it), especially when a person tries to stand on his feet. In addition, some astronauts experience arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) during missions.
Researchers note the need to develop methods and rules that will allow deep space travelers to avoid these types of problems. As noted, such methods and rules could be useful not only to astronauts, but also to ordinary people on Earth - those who experience heart problems, as well as those who are prescribed bed rest.
A five-year research program has now begun to determine the level of space impact on accelerating the development of atherosclerosis (blood vessel disease) in astronauts.
Sleep deprivation and use of sleeping pills
A 10-year study has shown that astronauts are clearly sleep deprived during the last weeks before launch and during the start of space missions. Among those interviewed, three out of four admitted to using medications that helped them sleep, even though the use of such medications could be dangerous while flying the spacecraft and when working with other equipment. The most dangerous situation in this case could be when the astronauts took the same medicine and at the same time. In this case, at the time of an emergency that requires an emergency solution, they could simply oversleep it.
Despite the fact that NASA has assigned every astronaut a minimum of eight and a half hours of sleep a day, most of them only get about six hours of rest each day while on missions. The seriousness of such a load on the body was aggravated by the fact that during the last three months of training before the flight, people slept less than six and a half hours a day.
"Future missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond will require the development of more effective measures to address sleep deprivation and optimize human performance during spaceflight," said senior researcher on the subject, Dr. Charles Kseiler.
“These measures may include changes in the schedule of work that will be carried out taking into account human exposure to certain light waves, as well as changes in the behavioral strategy of the crew for a more comfortable entry into the state of sleep, which is essential for restoring health, strength and good mood the next day. ".
hearing loss
Studies have shown that since space shuttle missions, some astronauts have experienced temporary significant and less significant hearing loss. They were noted most often when people were exposed to high sound frequencies. The crew members of the Soviet space station Salyut-7 and the Russian Mir also had minor or very significant hearing loss effects after returning to Earth. Again, in all these cases, the cause of partial or complete temporary hearing loss was exposure to high sound frequencies.
The crew of the International Space Station are required to wear earplugs every day. To reduce noise on board the ISS, among other measures, it was proposed to use special soundproof pads inside the walls of the station, as well as the installation of quieter fans.
However, in addition to the noisy background, other factors can also influence hearing loss: for example, the state of the atmosphere inside the station, increased intracranial pressure, as well as increased levels of carbon dioxide inside the station.
In 2015, NASA, with the help of the ISS crew, began exploring possible ways to avoid the effects of hearing loss during year-long missions. The scientists want to see how long these effects can be avoided and the acceptable risk associated with hearing loss. A key goal of the experiment will be to determine how to minimize hearing loss in its entirety, and not just during a specific space mission.
Stones in the kidneys
Every tenth person on Earth sooner or later develops the problem of kidney stones. However, this issue becomes much more acute when it comes to astronauts, because in space, the bones of the body begin to lose useful substances even faster than on Earth. Inside the body, salts (calcium phosphate) are released, which penetrate through the blood and accumulate in the kidneys. These salts can be compacted and take the form of stones. At the same time, the size of these stones can vary from microscopic to quite serious - up to the size of a walnut. The problem is that these stones can block the vessels and other flows that feed the organ or remove excess substances from the kidneys.
For astronauts, the risk of developing kidney stones is more dangerous because in microgravity conditions, the volume of blood inside the body can decrease. In addition, many astronauts do not drink 2 liters of liquids a day, which, in turn, could ensure their body is completely hydrated and do not allow stones to stagnate in the kidneys, removing their particles with urine.
It is noted that at least 14 American astronauts developed a problem with kidney stones almost immediately after the completion of their space missions. In 1982, a case of acute pain was recorded in a crew member aboard the Soviet Salyut-7 station. The cosmonaut suffered from severe pain for two days, while his comrade had no choice but to helplessly watch the suffering of his colleague. At first, everyone thought it was acute appendicitis, but after a while, along with the urine, the astronaut got a small kidney stone.
Scientists have long been developing a special desktop-sized ultrasound machine that can detect kidney stones and expel them using pulses of sound waves. It seems that on board a ship heading to Mars, such a thing could definitely come in handy.
lung diseases
Although we don't yet know exactly what negative health effects dust from other planets or asteroids can cause, scientists do know some very unpleasant effects that can occur as a result of exposure to lunar dust.
The most serious effect of dust inhalation is most likely to be in the lungs. However, incredibly sharp particles of moon dust can cause serious damage not only to the lungs, but also to the heart, at the same time causing a whole bunch of various ailments, ranging from severe organ inflammation to cancer. Similar effects can be caused, for example, by asbestos.
Sharp dust particles can harm not only internal organs, but also cause inflammation and abrasions on the skin. For protection, it is necessary to use special multilayer Kevlar-like materials. Moon dust can easily damage the corneas of the eyes, which in turn may be the most serious emergency for a person in space.
Scientists note with regret that they are unable to simulate the lunar soil and conduct the full set of tests necessary to determine the effects of lunar dust on the body. One of the difficulties in solving this problem is that on Earth, dust particles are not in a vacuum and are not constantly exposed to radiation. Only more research on the dust on the surface of the Moon itself, rather than in a lab, will provide scientists with the data they need to develop effective methods of defense against these tiny toxic killers.
Immune system failure
Our immune system changes and responds to any, even the most the slightest change in our body. Lack of sleep, inadequate nutrient intake, or even ordinary stress all weaken our immune systems. But this is on Earth. Changing the immune system in space can eventually turn into a common cold or carry a potential danger in the development of much more serious diseases.
In space, the distribution of immune cells in the body does not change much. A far greater threat to health can be caused by changes in the functioning of these cells. When the functioning of the cell is reduced, already suppressed viruses in the human body can re-awaken. And to do this in fact secretly, without the manifestation of symptoms of the disease. When immune cells become overactive, the immune system overreacts to irritants, causing allergic reactions and other side effects such as skin rashes.
“Things like radiation, microbes, stress, microgravity, sleep disturbance, and even isolation can all change how the immune system of crew members works,” says NASA immunologist Brian Krushin.
"Long-term space missions will increase the risk of infections, hypersensitivity, and autoimmune problems in astronauts."
To solve problems with the immune system, NASA plans to use new methods of anti-radiation protection, new approach to a balanced diet and medicines.
Radiation Threats
The current very unusual and very long absence of solar activity could contribute to dangerous changes in radiation levels in space. Nothing like this has happened for nearly 100 years.
“Although such events are not necessarily a stopping factor for long missions to the Moon, asteroids and even Mars, galactic cosmic radiation itself is one factor that can limit the planned time for these missions,” says Nathan Schwadron of the Institute terrestrial, oceanic and space research.
The consequences of this kind of exposure can be very different, ranging from radiation sickness and ending with the development of cancer or injury. internal organs. In addition, dangerous levels radiation background reduce the effectiveness of the spacecraft's anti-radiation protection by about 20 percent.
On just one mission to Mars, an astronaut could be exposed to 2/3 of the safe dose of radiation that a person could be exposed to in the worst case during their entire lifetime. This radiation can cause changes in DNA and increase the risk of cancer.
"In terms of cumulative dose, it's the same as doing a full body CT scan every 5-6 days," says scientist Cary Zeitlin.
cognitive problems
When simulating the state of being in space, scientists have found that exposure to highly charged particles, even in small doses, causes laboratory rats to react to their environment much more slowly, and at the same time the rodents become more irritable. Observation of rats also showed a change in the composition of the protein in their brains.
However, scientists are quick to point out that not all rats showed the same effects. If this rule holds true for astronauts as well, then the researchers think they could identify a biological marker that indicates and predicts that astronauts will soon develop these effects. Perhaps this marker would even allow us to find a way to reduce the negative effects of exposure to radiation.
Alzheimer's disease is a more serious problem.
"Exposure to levels of radiation equivalent to that experienced by a human on a mission to Mars may contribute to the cognitive problems and accelerate the brain changes most commonly associated with Alzheimer's disease," says neuroscientist Kerry O'Banion.
“The longer you are in space, the greater the risk of developing the disease.”
One of the comforting facts is that scientists have already managed to investigate one of the most unfortunate scenarios for exposure to radiation. They exposed laboratory mice to a level of radiation at one time that would be typical for the entire time of the mission to Mars. In turn, when flying to Mars, people will be exposed to radiation in a dosed manner, during the three years of the flight. Scientists believe that the human body can adapt to such small doses.
In addition, it is noted that plastic and lightweight materials can provide people with more effective protection against radiation than aluminum currently used.
vision loss
Some astronauts have developed serious vision problems after being in space. The longer the space mission lasts, the more likely the chance of such unfortunate consequences.
Of at least 300 US astronauts who have been medically screened since 1989, 29 percent of people who have been in space on two-week space missions and 60 percent of people who have worked on board the International Space Station for several months have had vision problems. .
Doctors from the University of Texas performed brain scans on 27 astronauts who had been in space for more than a month. In 25 percent of them, a decrease in the volume of the anterior-posterior axis of one or two eyeballs was observed. This change leads to farsightedness. Again, it was noted that the longer a person is in space, the more likely this change is.
Scientists believe that this negative effect can be explained by the rise of fluid to the head in conditions of migravitation. AT this case cerebrospinal fluid begins to accumulate in the cranium, intracranial pressure rises. Liquid cannot seep through the bone, so it begins to create pressure on the inside of the eyes. Researchers are not yet sure if this effect will decrease in astronauts who stay in space for more than six months. However, it is quite obvious that it will be necessary to find out before sending people to Mars.
If the problem is caused solely by intracranial pressure, then one possible solution would be to create artificial gravity conditions, every day for eight hours, while the astronauts sleep. However, it is too early to say whether this method will help or not.
“This problem needs to be addressed, because otherwise it may turn out to be main reason the impossibility of long-term space travel,” says scientist Mark Shelhamer.
Medical studies of bones carried out in space
In 2011, the second Russian digital spacecraft "Soyuz" was launched from Baikonur to MSC with an international crew of ISS-28/29 consisting of Russian Sergey Volkov, astronaut of the Japanese space agency Satoshi Furukawa and NASA astronaut Michael Fossum. Medical research was included in the program of stay in space. It is known that in order to conduct experiments, including experiments to study the effects of cosmic radiation on organisms, astronauts will deliver fragments of human bones into orbit for research. The purpose of scientific work is to find out the cause and track the dynamics of the process of calcium leaching from bone tissue. This problem is faced by all specialists working in space. Doctors could not study this problem in detail, because they are not able to take bone fragments of living astronauts who returned from the ISS for analysis. Therefore, in the arsenal of physicians there was only a urine test, which does not allow a broad look at this issue.
It is also known that cosmonaut Volkov launched new strains of bacteria into orbit. His pencil case contains various types of plant cells for the biotechnological experiment "Ginseng-2". Scientists plan to use their biomass for the preparation of medicines and in cosmetology.
Volkov also took part in the Matryoshka experiment, aimed at determining the degree of impact of cosmic radiation on critical human organs. This made it possible to create effective methods of protection. In particular, to continue testing the so-called protective curtain. According to the information, depending on the distance of the curtain from the outer wall of the station, the radiation dose is reduced by 20-60%.
Conclusion.
Achievements in the field of space biology and medicine have made a significant contribution to solving the problems of general biology and medicine. The ideas about the boundaries of life within the biosphere have expanded, and the experimental models of artificial biogeocenoses created by a relatively closed circulation of substances have made it possible to give a certain quantitative assessment anthropogenic impacts to the biosphere. Space biology has had a great influence on ecology, primarily human ecology and the study of the relationship between life processes and abiotic environmental factors. The studies carried out have made it possible to better understand the biology of humans and animals, the mechanisms of regulation and functioning of many body systems.
Research in the field of space biology and medicine will continue to be especially needed to solve a number of problems, in particular for the biological reconnaissance of new space routes. Extremely important role space biology and medicine will also play a role in the development of biocomplexes, or closed ecological systems, necessary for long-term flights. The cosmos is now becoming the arena international cooperation. An agreement was signed in 1972 between the governments of the USSR and the USA on cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, which provides, in particular, for cooperation in the field of space biology.
Thus, in the coming decades, a number of complex space programs will be implemented aimed at improving life in space and on Earth. The requirements for maintaining the health of cosmonauts, ensuring effective professional activity and high efficiency of cosmonauts, due to an increase in the duration of space expeditions, the volume of off-ship activities and installation work, the complication research activities. When carrying out expeditions to the Moon and, especially, to Mars, the risk will increase significantly compared to staying in near-Earth orbits. Therefore, many medical and biological problems will be solved taking into account the new realities. The priority development of the "life sciences" will not only ensure the successful solution of the promising tasks facing astronautics, but will also make an invaluable contribution to earthly health, for the benefit of every person..
List of used literature:
1. Big Children's Encyclopedia Universe: Popular science edition. - Russian encyclopedic partnership, 1999.
2. Big Encyclopedia Universe. - M.: Publishing house "Astrel", 1999.
3. Website http://spacembi.nm.ru/
4. Encyclopedia Universe (“ROSMEN”)
5. Wikipedia site (pictures)
6.Space at the turn of the millennium. Documents and materials. M., International relations (2000)
7. Tsiolkovsky K. E., Path to the Stars, Moscow, 1960;
8. Gazenko O. G., Some problems of space biology, Bulletin of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, 1962, No. 1;
9. Gazenko O. G., Space biology, in the book: Development of biology in the USSR, M., 1967; Gazenko O. G., Parfenov G. P., Results and prospects of research in the field of space genetics, "Space biology and medicine".
Content.
1. Introduction
2. Start. biomedical research in the middle of the 20th century.
Animals that paved the way for man into space.
3. Stages of biological research.
4. Prospects for the development of research.
10 medical problems capable of interfering with deep space exploration
5. Conclusion
6. List of used sources.
Second half of the 20th century was marked not only by the conduct of theoretical research to find ways to explore outer space, but also by the practical creation and launch of automatic vehicles into near-Earth orbits and to other planets, the first manned flight into space and long-term flights at orbital stations, and the landing of man on the surface of the moon. Theoretical research in the field of space technology and the design of controlled aircraft sharply stimulated the development of many sciences, including a new branch of knowledge - space medicine.
The main tasks of space medicine are the following:
ensuring the life and safety of the cosmonaut at all stages of space flight, maintaining his state of health and high efficiency;
study of the effects of space flight conditions on the human body, including the study of the phenomenology and mechanisms of the occurrence of shifts in physiological parameters in space flight;
development of methods for the prevention and provision of medical assistance to an astronaut in the event of adverse events associated with the impact of flight conditions on the human body;
development of methods for selection and training of cosmonauts;
Space medicine in its historical development has gone from modeling the factors of space flight in laboratory conditions and during animal flights on rockets and satellites to research related to long-term flights of orbital stations and flights of international crews.
In the formation and development of space biology and medicine in the USSR, the works of the founders of cosmonautics K.E. Tsiolkovsky, F.A. Tsander and others, who formulated a number of biological problems, the solution of which should have been a necessary prerequisite for the exploration of outer space by man. The theoretical aspects of space biology and medicine are based on the classical provisions of such founders of natural science as I.M. Sechenov, K.A. Timiryazev, I.P. Pavlov, V.V. Dokuchaev, L.A. Orbeli and others, in whose writings the doctrine of the interaction of the organism and external environment, fundamental questions of adaptation of the organism to changing environmental conditions have been developed.
An important role in the formation of a number of provisions and sections of space medicine was played by the work performed in the field of aviation medicine, as well as research carried out on biophysical rockets and spacecraft in the 50-60s.
The practical exploration of outer space with the help of manned flights began with the historic flight of Yu.A. Gagarin, the world's first cosmonaut, committed on April 12, 1961 on the Vostok spacecraft. We all remember his simple human phrase. “Let's go”, uttered during the launch of the Vostok spacecraft, this phrase succinctly and at the same time quite capaciously characterized the greatest achievement of mankind. Among other things, the flight of Yu.A. Gagarin was a maturity test for both astronautics in general and space medicine in particular.
Biomedical studies carried out prior to this flight, and the life support system developed on their basis, provided normal living conditions in the spacecraft cabin, necessary for the astronaut to complete the flight. The system of selection and training of cosmonauts created by that time, the system of biotelemetric monitoring of the state and working capacity of a person in flight and the hygienic parameters of the cabin determined the possibility and safety of flight.
However, all previous work, all the numerous flights of animals on spaceships, could not answer some questions related to human flight. So, for example, before the flight of Yu.A. Gagarin, it was not known how the conditions of weightlessness affect purely human functions: thinking, memory, coordination of movements, perception of the surrounding world, and more. Only the flight of the first man into space showed that these functions do not undergo significant changes in weightlessness. That is why Yu.A. Gagarin is known throughout the world as the discoverer of "star roads", the man who paved the way for all subsequent manned flights.
Over the 20 years that have passed since the flight of Yu.A. Gagarin, humanity steadily and comprehensively continued to explore outer space. And in connection with this glorious anniversary, there is an opportunity not only to analyze today's achievements in space medicine, but also to make a historical digression into the past and preceding decades.
Space flights throughout their development can be conditionally divided into several stages. The first stage is the preparation of a manned flight into outer space; it covered a significant period of time. It was accompanied by such studies as: 1) generalization of physiology and aviation medicine data that studied the influence of adverse environmental factors on the organism of animals and humans; 2) carrying out numerous laboratory studies in which some factors of space flight were imitated and their influence on the human body was studied; 3) specially prepared experiments on animals during rocket flights into the upper atmosphere, as well as during orbital flights on artificial Earth satellites.
The main tasks then were aimed at studying the question of the fundamental possibility of manned flight into space and solving the problem of creating systems that ensure that a man stays in the cockpit of a spacecraft during an orbital flight. The fact is that at that time there was a certain opinion of a number of fairly authoritative scientists about the incompatibility of human life with conditions of prolonged weightlessness, since this could allegedly cause significant violations of the function of respiration and blood circulation. In addition, they feared that a person might not be able to withstand the psychological stress of the flight.
In our country, since the beginning of the 1950s, a series of studies with animals has been carried out with vertical rocket launches at altitudes of 100, 200 and 450 km. In total, 52 dogs were launched on rockets in the Soviet Union, and the duration of weightlessness, depending on the flight altitude, ranged from 4 to 10 minutes. An analysis of the results of these studies showed that when flying on rockets, only moderate changes in physiological parameters were observed, manifested in an increase in heart rate and an increase in blood pressure when exposed to accelerations during takeoff and landing of the rocket (with a tendency to normalize or even decrease these indicators during stay in weightlessness). ).
In general, the impact of rocket flight factors did not cause significant disturbances in the physiological functions of animals. Biological experiments with vertical rocket launches have shown that dogs can satisfactorily endure fairly large overloads and short-term weightlessness.
In 1957, the USSR launched the second artificial Earth satellite with the dog Laika. This event was of fundamental importance for space medicine, since for the first time it allowed a highly organized animal to stay in weightlessness for quite a long time. As a result, the animals were found to be satisfactorily tolerant of space flight conditions. Subsequent experiments with six dogs during the flights of the second, third, fourth and fifth Soviet satellite ships returning to Earth made it possible to obtain a lot of material on the reactions of the main physiological systems of the organism of highly organized animals (both in flight and on Earth, including the post-flight period) .
The cabins of these satellites housed biological objects of various complexity: microorganisms, seeds of various plants, cultures of human epithelial tumor cells, small preserved areas of rabbit and human skin, insects, black and white laboratory mice and rats, guinea pigs. All studies carried out with the help of satellite ships provided extensive experimental material that firmly convinced scientists of the safety of human flight (from the point of view of health) into space.
Similar conclusions were reached by American scientists, who later carried out research on monkeys during suborbital and orbital (two orbits) flights of spacecraft (1961).
In the same period, the tasks of creating life support systems for astronauts were also solved - systems for supplying oxygen to the cabin, removing carbon dioxide and harmful impurities, as well as nutrition, water supply, medical control and disposal of human waste products. Specialists of space medicine took the most direct part in these works.
The second stage, coinciding with the first decade of manned flights (1961-1970), was characterized by short-term human space flights (from one orbit in 108 minutes to 18 days). It begins with the historical flight of Yu.A. Gagarin.
The results of biomedical research carried out during this time have reliably proved not only the possibility of a person staying in space flight conditions, but also the preservation of sufficient working capacity for him when performing various tasks in a spacecraft cabin limited in volume and when working in an unsupported space outside the spacecraft. . However, a number of changes were revealed in the motor sphere, the cardiovascular system, the blood system and other systems of the human body.
It was also found that the adaptation of astronauts to normal conditions terrestrial existence after space flights lasting from 18 days proceeds with known difficulties and is accompanied by a more pronounced tension of regulatory mechanisms than the astronaut's adaptation to weightlessness. Thus, with a further increase in flight time, it was necessary to create systems of appropriate preventive measures, improve medical control systems and develop methods for predicting the condition of crew members in flight and after it.
During the manned flights under these programs, along with medical studies of the crews, biological experiments were also carried out. So, on board the ships "Vostok-3", "Vostok-6", "Voskhod", "Voskhod-2", "Soyuz" there were such biological objects as lysogenic bacteria, chlorella, tradescantia, hella cells; human normal and cancer cells, dried plant seeds, turtles.
The third stage of manned space flights is associated with long-term flights of cosmonauts aboard orbital stations; it coincides with the past decade (1971-1980). A distinctive feature of manned flights at this stage, in addition to the significant duration of a person's stay in flight, is the increase in the amount of free space in living quarters - from the cockpit of a spacecraft to extensive living areas inside the orbital station. The latter circumstance had a dual significance for space medicine: on the one hand, it became possible to place on board the station a variety of equipment for biomedical research and means of preventing the adverse effects of weightlessness, and on the other hand, to significantly reduce the impact on the human body from factors limiting motor activity - hypokinesia (i.e. associated with the small size of free space).
It should be said that more comfortable living conditions, personal hygiene, etc. can be created at orbital stations. And the use of a complex of prophylactic agents can largely smooth out the body's adverse reactions to weightlessness, which has a great positive effect. However, on the other hand, this, to a certain extent, smooths out the reactions of the human body to weightlessness, which makes it difficult to analyze the shifts that occur for various systems of the human body that are characteristic of weightless conditions.
For the first time, a long-term orbital station (Salyut) was launched in the USSR in 1971. In subsequent years, manned flights were carried out aboard the Salyut-3, -4, -5, -6 orbital stations (moreover, the fourth main expedition of the Salyut- 6” was in space for 185 days). Numerous biomedical studies performed during the flight of orbital stations have shown that with an increase in the duration of a person's stay in space, no progression in the severity of the body's reactions to flight conditions was generally observed.
The complexes of prophylactic measures used ensured the maintenance of a good state of health and working capacity of the cosmonauts during such flights, and also contributed to the smoothing of reactions and facilitated adaptation to terrestrial conditions in the post-flight period. It is important to note that the conducted medical studies did not reveal any changes in the body of the cosmonauts that prevent a systematic increase in the duration of flights. At the same time, from the side, some body systems were found to have functional changes that are the subject of further consideration.
SPACE MEDICINE, a field of medicine that studies the characteristics of human life under the influence of space flight factors in order to develop means and methods for maintaining the health and performance of crews of spacecraft and stations. The main tasks of space medicine: study of the influence of space flight (SF) factors on the human body; development of means of prevention and protection against the adverse effects of their impact; physiological and sanitary-hygienic substantiation of the requirements for the life support system of manned aircraft, as well as for crew rescue equipment in case of emergency. Important areas of space medicine; development of clinical and psychophysiological methods and criteria for the selection and preparation of cosmonauts for flight; development of means and methods of medical control at all stages of flight; addressing the issues of prevention and treatment of diseases in flight and elimination of the adverse effects of long-term flight landings. Space medicine is closely related to space biology, space physiology and psychophysiology, space radiobiology, etc.
Space medicine goes back to aviation medicine, and its development is due to the creation of rocket technology and the achievements of astronautics. Biological and physiological studies on animals and with the use of rockets and satellite ships made it possible to test life support systems, study the physiological effects of CP factors and substantiate the possibility and safety of it for humans. The activities of domestic scientists made it possible to solve a number of fundamental and applied problems of space medicine, including the creation of an effective system of medical support for health and active human activity in manned spacecraft. This was facilitated by a large amount of research and experiments performed in our country in the 1960-1990s, both in ground model conditions and in the spacecraft on the Vostok, Voskhod, Soyuz spacecraft, orbital stations of the Salyut series, "Mir" and automatic devices (biological satellites) of the "Bion" series.
In a space flight, the human body is affected by factors associated with flight dynamics (acceleration, noise, vibration, weightlessness, etc.); factors associated with staying in the so-called hermetically sealed premises of small volume with an artificial habitat. The complex effect of these factors during the flight does not always allow establishing strict cause-and-effect relationships of recorded deviations of physiological parameters in humans at different stages of flight.
Among all the factors of CP, weightlessness (microgravity) is unique and practically unreproducible under laboratory conditions. In the initial period of its action, there is a displacement of body fluids in the cranial (towards the head) direction due to the removal of hydrostatic pressure, as well as signs of the so-called motion sickness due to a mismatch in the activity of sensory systems, etc. Medical and biological studies have shown that the development of adaptive reactions is practically of all physiological systems of the body to stay in conditions of prolonged weightlessness can lead to adverse consequences - cardiovascular decompensation, orthostatic instability, muscle atrophy, osteoporosis, etc. vibration stands, pressure chambers, immersion stands, etc.).
The creation, launch and expansion of the ISS required the development and implementation of common system medical support of the CP. Medical support is a system of organizational, medical, sanitary-hygienic and medical-technical measures aimed at maintaining and maintaining the health and performance of cosmonauts at all stages of their activity. Includes: medical selection and examination of astronauts; medical and biological training of crews; medical and sanitary support for the development of manned spacecraft; development of onboard means of medical and biological support; medical support for the health and performance of cosmonauts; monitoring the health of the crew and the environment in the living compartments of orbital stations (sanitary and hygienic and radiation control); prevention of adverse effects of CP factors on the body, medical care according to indications; medical support for the health of crew members in the post-flight period, including medical rehabilitation measures.
To prevent adverse reactions of the human body at different stages of the flight (including the post-flight rehabilitation period), a set of pre-flight preparatory and preventive measures and means is used: a treadmill, a bicycle ergometer, a vacuum suit that simulates negative pressure on the lower half of the body, training load suits, expanders, water - salt additives, pharmacological agents, etc. The main goal of preventive measures is to counteract adaptation to weightlessness, which is achieved by creating an axial load on the body, physical training, simulating the effect of hydrostatic blood pressure, balanced nutrition with its possible correction. The effectiveness of these measures is confirmed by long-term CPs of domestic crews.
High biological activity various kinds cosmic radiation determines the importance of measures for the creation of dosimetry tools, the determination of permissible doses during the spacecraft, the development of means and methods for the prevention and protection against the damaging effects of cosmic radiation. Ensuring radiation safety is of particular importance with an increase in the range and duration of spacecraft, especially interplanetary ones. To ensure the performance of work in open space or on the surface of planets, as well as to save life in the event of depressurization of a ship or station, space suits with a life support system are used.
Space medicine also studies the development mechanisms and methods for preventing decompression sickness; the effects of reduced (hypoxia) and increased (hyperoxia) oxygen content; change in daily regimes; psychology of compatibility of crew members. Human life support on manned spacecraft and orbital stations is created by a set of equipment, the effectiveness of which is monitored by sanitary-hygienic and microbiological studies of the atmosphere, water, interior surfaces, etc. A special section of space medicine is dedicated to the selection and training of cosmonauts.
The Russian Space Agency coordinates all space activities in the Russian Federation, including medical support for the spacecraft. The Institute of Biomedical Problems is the State Research Center that studies the problems of space medicine and is responsible for the health of cosmonauts in the spacecraft. The Yu. A. Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center is the lead organization at the stages of selection and medical and biological preparation for the spacecraft and post-flight rehabilitation. A section on space biology and medicine operates as part of the RAS Scientific Council for Space. The journal "Aerospace and Ecological Medicine" is devoted to the problems of space medicine. Special courses in space physiology and medicine are included in learning programs Faculty of Medicine and Biology of the Russian State medical university and faculty fundamental medicine Moscow State University.
In the United States, NASA coordinates work on space medicine problems; in Europe, the European Space Agency (ESA); in Japan, the Japan Space Exploration Agency (JAXA); in Canada, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). The largest international organizations- Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) and the International Astronautical Federation (IAF).
Lit.: Brief reference book on space biology and medicine. 2nd ed. M., 1972; Fundamentals of space biology and medicine. Joint Soviet-American edition: In 3 volumes / Edited by O. G. Gazenko, M. Calvin. M., 1975; Space biology and medicine: Joint Soviet-American edition: In 5 vols. M., 1994-2001.
The branch of medicine, which is designed to ensure the health of astronauts, can improve the well-being of people on Earth.
Space medicine as a separate discipline originates in the 50s of the last century. When people first began to conquer space - an environment not intended for human life, it was designed to cope with the direct impact of microgravity on human physiology. Gradually, space medicine also faced the long-term consequences of the influence of almost complete weightlessness, radiation and long-term isolation of the expedition members from the rest of the world.
The first cosmonauts, of course, were military test pilots, but it was obvious that doctors should also be sent into space so that they could study the reaction of the body to space flight factors on the spot. Boris Egorov became the first cosmonaut doctor - in October 1964 he spent more than a day on board the Voskhod-1 spacecraft and collected significant material on the effect of g-forces and microgravity on the vestibular apparatus.
NASA involved doctors in the development of space programs and equipment (including life support systems, spacesuits, airlocks, etc.) in 1967. The first of these was Story Musgrave, who himself later took part in six flights under the Space Shuttle program.
Although space medicine has come a long way since then, it still relies heavily on the ability to bring an astronaut back to Earth if he needs serious medical attention. However, in the light of the planned long-term missions into space (in particular, a flight to Mars), new methods of diagnosis and treatment are being developed under weightless conditions.
Diagnostics, operations and recovery in space
When a particular medical situation occurs on board a spacecraft or station, special equipment may be required to make a diagnosis. X-ray and CT do not exist because they use radiation that is unacceptable in the conditions of the space environment. Ultrasound becomes the best option, since it allows you to take pictures of various organs and tissues and does not require heavy overall equipment. Small, laptop-sized ultrasound machines are already being used by NASA to check the health of the eyes and optic nerve of astronauts who spend extended periods in orbit.
The MRI scanner provides more diagnostic opportunities than ultrasound, but it is very heavy and expensive. Recently, however, researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (Canada) have developed a compact MRI machine that weighs less than a ton (the average scanner weighs 11 tons), costs about $200,000, and does not affect the electronic equipment on board.
To perform abdominal laparoscopic teleoperations in space, the American company Virtual Incision, together with NASA, has developed a surgical robot the size of a human fist. It will be managed by a doctor on Earth. To prevent biological fluids from spreading throughout the module in microgravity during surgery, researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Louisville created a special surgical system, AISS (Aqueous Immersion Surgical System). It is a transparent box that is applied to the wound and filled with sterile saline - it does not allow blood to flow out. The system allows surgeons to work with the wound, and also, when the pressure in it changes, to draw blood so that later, if necessary, it can be returned to the circulatory system.
Space affects viruses and bacteria in the same way as humans. Studies have shown that microgravity conditions increase the virulence of such organisms; they begin to multiply more actively, mutate faster, and better resist antibiotics. As an alternative to the latter, cold plasma can be used to kill viruses and bacteria. In laboratory conditions, it has been found to kill most microorganisms and increase the rate of wound healing.
Common Health Issues in Space
Doctors and astronauts have to face a wide variety of problems. Among them are “space sickness” (dizziness and loss of balance when leaving and returning to Earth’s gravity), “space osteopenia” (loss of bone mass while staying in microgravity, an average of 1% per month), loss of muscle mass, since the muscles do not need to overcome gravity, visual impairment due to increased intracranial pressure, and many others.
Of those recorded on this moment diseases and conditions from which the participants of various space expeditions suffered - infections of the upper respiratory tract, viral gastroenteritis, dermatitis, insomnia, "seasickness", arrhythmia, renal colic, but it is obvious that during long missions over long distances people will have to face and with other medical problems.
Each of them, in particular a serious illness or injury, can potentially negatively affect the course of the expedition, lead to its failure and the loss of crew members. The return to Earth will be either impossible or very difficult, depending on the path already covered, so the provision of medical care (including emergency and psychological) should be completely or as much as possible autonomous.
Earth and space medicine
Developments made for space expeditions may be useful for the Earth. Some of them have already become a reality. For example, digital imaging technologies that NASA developed to take better pictures of the Moon have found their way into MRI and CT machines. The memory foam used in today's orthopedic mattresses and pillows was also originally created for the comfort and safety of pilots.
And this is only a small part of such “offshoots” of space research. Space medicine, developing, can not only lead a person to the stars, but also improve his life at home - on Earth.