Space Exploration, Mars, and the Nervous System

Kalb, Robert G.; Solomon, David

doi:10.1001/archneur.64.4.485

Cited by 31 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…There are many challenges relative to a human mission to Mars ( e.g . Haddy ; Kalb & Solomon ; Nair et al . ; Groemer et al .…”

Section: Conclusion and Future Prospects For Fractional Or Reduced Gmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are many challenges relative to a human mission to Mars (e.g. Haddy 2007;Kalb & Solomon 2007;Nair et al 2008;Groemer et al 2010). For instance, we need to develop more advanced rocket propulsion systems, study the specific effects of space radiation on humans and other living organisms, and better interpret the psycho-social factors of crew interactions.…”

Section: Conclusion and Future Prospects For Fractional Or Reduced Gmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Plant biology in reduced gravity on the Moon and Mars

Kiss

2013

Plant Biol J

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While there have been numerous studies on the effects of microgravity on plant biology since the beginning of the Space Age, our knowledge of the effects of reduced gravity (less than the Earth nominal 1 g) on plant physiology and development is very limited. Since international space agencies have cited manned exploration of Moon/Mars as long-term goals, it is important to understand plant biology at the lunar (0.17 g) and Martian levels of gravity (0.38 g), as plants are likely to be part of bioregenerative life-support systems on these missions. First, the methods to obtain microgravity and reduced gravity such as drop towers, parabolic flights, sounding rockets and orbiting spacecraft are reviewed. Studies on gravitaxis and gravitropism in algae have suggested that the threshold level of gravity sensing is around 0.3 g or less. Recent experiments on the International Space Station (ISS) showed attenuation of phototropism in higher plants occurs at levels ranging from 0.l g to 0.3 g. Taken together, these studies suggest that the reduced gravity level on Mars of 0.38 g may be enough so that the gravity level per se would not be a major problem for plant development. Studies that have directly considered the impact of reduced gravity and microgravity on bioregenerative life-support systems have identified important biophysical changes in the reduced gravity environments that impact the design of these systems. The author suggests that the current ISS laboratory facilities with on-board centrifuges should be used as a test bed in which to explore the effects of reduced gravity on plant biology, including those factors that are directly related to developing life-support systems necessary for Moon and Mars exploration.

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“…There are many challenges relative to a human mission to Mars ( e.g . Haddy ; Kalb & Solomon ; Nair et al . ; Groemer et al .…”

Section: Conclusion and Future Prospects For Fractional Or Reduced Gmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Conclusion and Future Prospects For Fractional Or Reduced Gmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant biology in reduced gravity on the Moon and Mars

Kiss

2013

Plant Biol J

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“…Alterations in spatial orientation (Lipshits et al, 2005) and sensory-motor function (e.g. Kalb and Solomon, 2007;Souvestre et al, 2008) are acutely challenging but re-adapt rapidly, whereas cardiovascular (Hargens and Richardson, 2009;Hughson, 2009) and musculoskeletal system (Narici and de Boer 2011) de-conditioning can precipitate chronic health issues as well as imparing astronaut operations. A raft of countermeasures including various exercise regimes, nutrition and behavioural support are employed in space missions (Convertino, 2002;Cavanagh et al, 2005), but these fail to entirely ameliorate microgravity-induced de-conditioning.…”

Section: Human Physiology and Medicinementioning

confidence: 99%

Back to the Moon: The scientific rationale for resuming lunar surface exploration

Crawford

Anand

Cockell

et al. 2012

Planetary and Space Science

131

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The lunar geological record has much to tell us about the earliest history of the Solar System, the origin and evolution of the Earth-Moon system, the geological evolution of rocky planets, and the near-Earth cosmic environment throughout Solar System history. In addition, the lunar surface offers outstanding opportunities for research in astronomy, astrobiology, fundamental physics, life sciences and human physiology and medicine. This paper provides an interdisciplinary review of outstanding lunar science objectives in all of these different areas. It is concluded that addressing them satisfactorily will require an end to the 40-year hiatus of lunar surface exploration, and the placing of new scientific instruments on, and the return of additional samples from, the surface of the Moon. Some of these objectives can be achieved robotically (e.g. through targeted sample return, the deployment of geophysical networks, and the placing of antennas on the lunar surface to form radio telescopes). However, in the longer term, most of these scientific objectives would benefit significantly from renewed human operations on the lunar surface. For these reasons it is highly desirable that current plans for renewed robotic surface exploration of the Moon are developed in the context of a future human lunar exploration programme, such as that proposed by the recently formulated Global Exploration Roadmap.

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“…It is well known that two of the primary systems negatively influenced by microgravity include the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems. In regards to skeletal muscle, reductions in muscle breakdown can be detected within days in a microgravity environment (46) which may lead to further decreases in muscle function (26) often observed in the antigravity muscles, or those muscles that play a postural role in standard gravity conditions (18). Specifically, 17 weeks of bed rest showed the greatest regional changes in muscle mass predominantly in the lower limb muscles (30).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Concurrent Exercise on a Gravity-Independent Device during Simulated Microgravity

Cotter

Haddad

et al. 2015

Medicine &Amp; Science in Sports &Amp; Exercise

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Purpose To examine the effect of a high-intensity concurrent training program utilizing a single gravity-independent device on maintaining skeletal muscle function and aerobic capacity during short-term unilateral lower limb suspension (ULLS). Methods Nineteen subjects (10 male; 9 female; 21.0 ± 2.5 yr, 65.4 ± 12.2 kg) were separated into 2 groups: 1) 10 day unilateral lower limb suspension only (ULLS; n = 9) and 2) 10 day ULLS plus aerobic and resistance training (ULLS+EX; n = 10). Exercise was performed on a single gravity-independent Multi-Mode Exercise Device (M-MED) with alternating days of high-intensity interval aerobic training and maximal exertion resistance training. Results Aerobic capacity increased by 7% in ULLS+EX (P < 0.05). Knee extensor and ankle plantar flexor three repetition max increased in the ULLS+EX group (P < 0.05) but this change was only different than ULLS in the plantar flexors (P < 0.05). Peak torque levels decreased with ULLS but were increased for the knee extensors and attenuated for the ankle plantar flexors with ULLS+EX (P < 0.05). A shift towards type IIx myosin heavy chain mRNA occurred with ULLS and was reversed with ULLS+EX in the vastus lateralis (P < 0.05) but not the soleus. Myostatin and atrogin increased with ULLS in both the vastus lateralis and soleus but this change was mitigated with ULLS+EX only in the vastus lateralis (P = 0.0551 for myostatin; P < 0.05 for atrogin). Citrate synthase was decreased in the soleus during ULLS but was increased with ULLS+EX (P < 0.05). Conclusion These results indicate that an M-MED class countermeasure device appears to be effective at mitigating the deconditioning effects of microgravity simulated during a modified-ULLS protocol.

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Space Exploration, Mars, and the Nervous System

Cited by 31 publications

References 30 publications

Plant biology in reduced gravity on the Moon and Mars

Plant biology in reduced gravity on the Moon and Mars

Back to the Moon: The scientific rationale for resuming lunar surface exploration

Concurrent Exercise on a Gravity-Independent Device during Simulated Microgravity

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