This viewgraph presentation reviews human physiological responses to spaceflight, and the countermeasures taken to prevent adverse effects of manned space flight. The topics include: 1) Human Spaceflight Experience; 2) Human Response to Spaceflight; 3) ISS Expeditions 1-16; 4) Countermeasure; and 5) Biomedical Data

Fogarty, Jennifer

NASA Technical Reports Server

1Human Adaptation to Space: 
Space Physiology and 
Countermeasures
Presented by:
Jennifer Fogarty, PhD – NASA
May 2008
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20090004998 2019-08-30T06:00:55+00:00Z
2Acknowledgements
The following presentation is the product of on-going work by 
The NASA, Johnson Space Center, Space Life Sciences 
Directorate (SLSD)
Laboratories, researchers, clinicians, and analysts from each 
division, Habitability and Environmental Factors; Human 
Adaptation and Countermeasures; and Space Medicine, 
within SLSD have contributed to the work presented here.
3N
um
be
r o
f i
nd
iv
id
ua
l e
xp
os
ur
es
Human Spaceflight Experience
4•Muscle
•Cardiovascular 
Astronauts experience 
a spectrum of 
adaptations in flight 
and postflight
Balance disorders
Cardiovascular deconditioning
Decreased immune function
Muscle atrophy
Bone loss
•Neurovestibular
•Behavior
•Immunology
•Nutrition
•Bone
Human Response to Spaceflight
5 Space Adaptation Syndrome (SAS) 
 approximately 70% of all astronauts traveling 
into space experience SAS symptoms, which 
range from nausea and light headedness to 
vomiting. The exact cause of SAS is unknown, 
but it is believed that it is caused by conflicting 
sensory inputs from the vestibular organ (inner 
ear) and the eyes. SAS symptoms normally last 
only for a day or two and can be treated by 
medication. 
6 Space Adaptation Syndrome (SAS) 
 Space Motion Sickness (SMS)
 Headache
 Back Pain
 Insomnia
 Nasal Congestion
 Constipation
 Nosebleed
 Urinary Retention
 Urinary Incontinence
7OperationalResearch
Transitioning Data/Technology/Solutions to Operations
8ISS Expeditions 1-16
 20 Astronauts on ISS 
 17 males
 3 females
 Average age 47.2 years young
 Average length of mission 174.2 days
 Longest mission 215 days
 Shortest mission 133 days
9 Countermeasure
 an action, process, device, or system that can 
prevent, or mitigate (negate or offset) the effects of, 
threats to a human; a threat is a potential or actual 
adverse event that may be malicious or incidental, 
and that can compromise the health and/or 
performance of an individual and the integrity of 
mission 
10
Exercise Countermeasures System Elements
SchRED TVIS CEVIS
Axial Bone loading, Muscle  
Strength, & Joint protection
Bone impact loading, 
Sensorimotor & Cardio
Cardio & muscle
This integrated system supports crew capability for normal 
and contingency ops.  There is limited redundancy and 
crossover between the elements of the CMS system.
Resistive Exercise Treadmill Cycle Ergometry
11
TVIS
I-RED
CEVIS
ISS Exercise Hardware Availability Timeline
I-RED
Assembly
EXP1 EXP2 EXP3 EXP4 EXP5 EXP6 EXP7 EXP8 EXP9
CEVIS 
Assembly
TVIS 
Assembly
restricted to 
arm ergometry
failing control 
panel
EXP10
SchRED 
replaces I-RED
EXP12EXP11
10/00 09/0506/02 10/03 04/0510/0404/0311/0203/01 12/0108/01 04/04
EXP13 EXP14 EXP15 EXP16
03/06 09/06 04/07 10/07
CCC 
Installed
failed control 
panel; CCC 
installed
DC power 
converter 
failure
7th fwd stbd roller 
deteriorated
Incorrect thimble 
on new cord
Exercise Device Availability
12
Biomedical Data
 Data Collected via Medical Requirements
 Assessments of:
 Bone
 Aerobic Fitness
 Functional Fitness
13
Decreased Bone Mineral Density
BMD % Change from Preflight 
Expeditions 1-16 (n=20)
-30.0
-25.0
-20.0
-15.0
-10.0
-5.0
0.0
5.0
Lumbar
Spine
Femoral
Neck
Trochanter Whole
Body
Heel Pelvis
14
Decreased Bone Mineral Density
Pre and Post Bone Mineral Density- I 
Expeditions 1-16 (n=20)
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
Pre-L Spine Post-L
Spine
Pre-F Neck Post-F
Neck
Pre-
Trochanter
Post-
Trochanter
BM
D 
(g
/c
m
2)
Pre and Post Bone Mineral Density- II 
Expeditions 1-16 (n=20)
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
Pre-Whole
Body
Post-
Whole
Body
Pre-
Calcaneus
Post-
Calcaneus
Pre-Pelvis Post-Pelvis
BM
D 
(g
/c
m
2)
15
Bone Mineral Density Recovery
Femoral Neck
Loss0=6.8% Recovery Half-life=211 d
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
0 300 600 900 1200 1500
Days-After-Landing
B
M
D
 C
ha
ng
e 
(%
)
B
M
D
 C
ha
ng
e 
(%
)
Pelvis
Loss0=7.7%    Recovery Half-life=97 d
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
0 300 600 900 1200 1500
Days-After-Landing
B
M
D
 C
ha
ng
e 
(%
)
B
M
D
 C
ha
ng
e 
(%
)
Trochanter
Loss0=7.8% Recovery Half-life=255 d
-25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
0 300 600 900 1200 1500
Days-After-Landing
B
M
D
 C
ha
ng
e 
(%
)
B
M
D
 C
ha
ng
e 
(%
)
16
Estimated In-flight and
Post-flight Aerobic Capacity 
Percent Change in Estimated VO2 Index from Pre-Flight Expeditions 1-16 (n=20)
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
0-29 30-69 70-99 100-129 130-149 150+ R+4-7 R+30-35
%
 c
ha
ng
e 
fr
om
 p
re
-fl
ig
ht
17
Recovery of Functional Fitness
Postflight Functional Fitness Expeditions 1-16 (n=20)
-80.00
-60.00
-40.00
-20.00
0.00
20.00
40.00
60.00
80.00
100.00
R+5 R+30 R+5 R+30 R+5 R+30 R+5 R+30 R+5 R+30 R+5 R+30
%
 c
ha
ng
e 
fro
m
 p
re
fli
gh
t
Push Ups Crunches Pull Ups Sit&Reach Bench Press Leg Press
18
Back Up Slides
19
Biomedical Results of ISS
Expeditions 1-16
Summary Slide
Purpose: Highlight the biomedical data captured during International Space 
Station expeditions 1 - 16  via the medical requirements testing
Content: Graphic assessments of physiological and performance. The 
physiological parameters assessed include skeletal and cardiovascular. 
Performance parameters assessed include aerobic capacity, strength, flexibility, 
and endurance measurements. 


Human Adaptation to Space: Space Physiology and Countermeasures

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