Experiment Building Around Sodium Retention in Microgravity
- Paper number
IAC-07-E2.2.03
- Author
Ms. Laura André-Boyet, CADMOS-CNES and Ecole Polytechnique, France
- Year
2007
- Abstract
This study determines the materials necessary to set up in space and establishes the adequate procedure required in order to carry out experiments and collect exploitable datum for research on sodium retention in microgravity.
I hold this study named “SOLO” in great esteem because it binds several domains such as systems ergonomics and data management, as well as physiology and various spacial technologies.
As the connection between the physiological researcher wishing to extract a precise type of data from the experiment and the astronauts who will carry out these experiments - often under nonfavorable conditions - my study requires a broad understanding of: the medical world, schedule management of the astronauts and the data/project management.
The purpose of the study is to allow Dr. Martina Heer, working with the Institute of Aerospace Medicine of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), to collect datum from both pre-flight and post-flight baseline data collection, as well as in-flight measurements in order to use them in her studies about sodium retention in microgravity.
Dr. Heer wishes to design a study following these outlines: during a long-term space mission, she needs astronauts to participate in a two phase study consisting of 5 days each. The astronauts will have to follow 2 diets with different sodium intakes while logging such information as body weight fluctuation, the volume of their voids, and also collecting blood and urine samples. They will be required to analyse their blood composition in-flight. Each procedure must be established paying careful attention to maintaining an acceptable level of comfort for the astronaut while simultaneously minimizing required crew time.
In order to provide the European scientists with as great a chance as possible to reach the International Space Station(ISS), the European Space Agency (ESA) controls User Support and Operation Centers (USOCs) located in Germany, Belgium, Spain, France, Denmark, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands and Switzerland. The CADMOS (Centre d’Aide au Développement des activités en Micro-pesanteur et des Opérations Spatiales - Help Center for Microgravity Activity Development and Spacial Operations) belongs to the first level centers - also called “Facility Responsible Centers (FRCs)” .
This study is a part of the programme of physiological studies of the ESA and is coordinated mainly by CADMOS inside the CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales) in Toulouse, France. CADMOS is a CNES element available for user teams to prepare and realize experiments requiring microgravity environments (Inhabited Space Station, Automatic Capsules , Airbus Zero-G). CADMOS coordinates mission, operation and exploitation phases.
The FRCs have a ground model of the equipment intended to familiarize the scientific users, to test and validate the procedures and, possibly, to train the crew. CADMOS is currently in charge of several human physiology experiments selected for the micro-weightlessness research programme of the ESA prior to Columbus.
The scientific experiments onboard the ISS use the state of microgravity to: - observe physical phenomena which, on the ground, are masked by the effect of gravity. For example this is the case for experiments regarding the solidification of materials. - explain complex physical or biological mechanisms, for which the scientists assume or know that gravity plays a determining role.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-E2.2.03.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.