Fundamentals of Space Medicine — Chapter 8
Photo NASA
Investigators'
Guide
Space Life Sciences
Investigators' Guide
Gilles Clément, Ph.D
CNRS
"Cerveau et Cognition" Laboratory
Toulouse, France
Kluwer Academic Publishers • Copyright © 2003 • All rights reserved
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Investigators'
Guide
Outline
2
• Resources
– Opportunities for space life
sciences experiments
– Constraints of space
missions
• How to "fly" an experiment
– Experiment proposal
– Experiment design
– Experiment integration
– Documentation
– Crew science training
– In-flight operations
Spacelab Integration. Photo ESA
Investigators'
Guide
Steps of Life Science Research
Experiment
Proposal
Peer
Review
Testable
Hypothesis
?
Acceptance
of Proposal
Questions
Concerns
Problems
Observations
Development of
Protocol/Hardware
Knowledge
and Solution
Flight
Experimentation
Supporting
Ground-Based Studies
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Investigators'
Guide
Access to Microgravity
Microgravity
Duration
Clinostat
Simulated
Unlimited
Bed rest
Simulated
3-12 months
Centrifuge
>1g
2 months (animals)
Drop tower
< 10-4
seconds
Parabolic flight
10-1-10-2
20 seconds
Sounding rocket
10-5
6-15 minutes
Unmanned capsule
10-5-10-6
15 days
Space Shuttle
10-4
10 days
SpaceHab
10-4
< 16 days
ISS
10-4
Unlimited
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Investigators'
Guide
Research Opportunities
5
• International Space Station
• Spacehab Science Missions
• Shuttle Small Payload Flight
Experiments
• Biosatellites (Photon)
• Ground-Based Investigations :
Photon capsule after landing. Photo CNES
– Parabolic flight
– Centrifuge
– Laboratory (e.g., clinostat)
– Simulations (e.g., bed rest)
Movie:
05_KC135
– Ground-based development
studies
NASA KC-135 during parabolic
flight.Photo
Document
Clinostat.
CNESNASA
Investigators'
Guide
Ground-Based Investigations
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• Performed in the investigator’s laboratory or in space agencies’
identified research facilities
• Objectives clearly related with space research, e.g., effects of
changing gravity levels, lesion experiments, development of new
data analysis methods, space data modelisation, etc.
• Space agencies’ special research facilities include :
– Zero-G aircrafts
– Centrifuges
– Slow Rotating Room
– Clinics for bed-rest studies
– Neutral buoyancy facilities
– Isolated/confined environments:
closed chambers, spacecraft
mockups, polar bases, etc.
Parabolic flight experiment Photo NASA
Investigators'
Guide
Space Shuttle Middeck & SpaceHab
7
Documents NASA
Movie:
07_stsISStour
Storage lockers in the middeck of the Space Shuttle
Shuttle and ISS tour
Investigators'
Guide
“Small Payload” Experiments
• Proposals focus on scientific or technical research
programs (e.g., space biology, space radiation, health,
countermeasures, etc.) defined by NASA
• Studies are being flown in the middeck area of the
Space Shuttle or on ground before and just after
landing
• Considerable resources limitations :
– 1 or 2 lockers (56 liters, 25 kg each)
– Maximum power 130 W, both 28 and 115 VAC,
not available during ascent and re-entry
– Latest access is 14 hours before launch
• Use existing flight hardware, or NASA Life Sciences
Laboratory Equipment (LSLE) such as Plant Growth Unit,
Biological Canisters, Animal Enclosure Modules,
Physiological Monitoring Systems, etc.
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Document NASA
Investigators'
Guide
International Space Station (ISS)
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Investigators'
Guide
ISS Experiment Cycles
10
Documents NASA
Movie:
10_docking
Investigators'
Guide
ISS Experiment Implementation
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Document NASA
Time
Investigators'
Guide
Experiments on board ISS
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• Ethical approval
• Crew consent
• Multinational crew as subjects
and operators
• Crew training
• Small number of subjects
and observations
• Limited access to real time data
• Integrated experiments: multiple
Principal Investigators (PIs) must
share the same equipment
• Mainly unexpected results
ISS Columbus module. Document ESA
Investigators'
Guide
Crew Time
• For a life science mission, crew time is the most precious
resource
• On Shuttle or Spacehab missions, the crew typically consists
of 7 crewmembers:
– The Commander and Pilot are responsible for spacecraft
operations and are available as subjects and / or
operators on a limited basis
– Two Missions Specialists are trained for EVAs and are
available after the EVA has been completed
– Three Missions Specialists are dedicated to payload
operations/activities as operators, and as subjects on a
voluntary basis
• One ISS increment (expedition) includes 3 crewmembers for
a duration of 3-4 months. All crewmembers participate in life
sciences experiments as operators, and as subjects on a
voluntary basis
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Investigators'
Guide
Space Shuttle Crew Time
14
• Typical on-orbit day
(per crewmember) :
– 8 hrs for sleep
– 6 hrs for pre- and
post-sleep activities
– 2 hrs for lunch, hygiene,
and exercise
– 8 hrs for payload activities
• Two 1/2 days off required on 14-day missions
• First day and last two days of the mission have limited
time available for payload activities :
– Mission Day 1:
approx. 2 hrs/crewmember
– Last day minus one: approx. 3 hrs/crewmember
– Last day (entry day): approx. 1 hr/crewmember
Photo NASA
Investigators'
Guide
MIR (and presumably ISS) Crew Time
• On-orbit day averaged over a 3-month stay including one EVA
(per crewmember):
– 8 hrs for sleep
– 4 hrs for pre- and post sleep activities
– 5 hrs for lunch, hygiene,
and exercise
– 1.5 hr for preparing EVA
– 1.5 for public relations
– 4 hrs for payload activities
• Two days off required every week
• First two days of the mission (Soyuz)
Movie:
15_mirtour
have no time available for payload activities
• First measurement on board not performed before Mission Day 4
• EVA preparation prevents payload activities for one week
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Investigators'
Guide
Postflight Data Collection
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• Space Shuttle Entry Day
– Crew to be awake 8-14 hrs before landing (3 hrs for postsleep activity, 4 hrs for de-orbit prep., 1 hr from de-orbit to
landing). Maximum wake time: 18 hrs
– Wheel-stop to clinic: 1-2 hr
– Medical exam: 0.5 hr
– Visit+meal+shower: 1 hr
– If DC exceeds 4 hrs,
must have 1-hr break
• Soyuz Entry Day
– Crew spends up to 10 hrs in Soyuz
Crew transfer vehicle. Photo NASA
– Medical exam on landing site: 1.5 hr
– Transfer to clinic (including meal+visit+rest): 6 hrs
– First measurements at R+20 hrs; duration not to exceed
two hrs, with crew in supine or sitting position
Investigators'
Guide
Example: STS-111 R+0 Schedule
Movie:
17_landing2
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Investigators'
Guide
Additional Constraints
• Activities require more time to be performed in 0-g:
– Some activities take about 40% longer in space than on
the ground (e.g., extensive equipment set-up)
– Some activities may require extra operators (e.g.,
dissections or hazardous operations, rotating chair)
– As a result, 4 hrs or crew time in 0-g correspond to only
2.4 hrs on the ground
• Non-human species/specimens:
– A finite number of animals or specimens is available
– The limited number often requires the development of
elaborate and detailed sharing plans to maximize their use
• Sharing plans are needed for some investigations on human
subjects (e.g., volume of blood draw is limited)
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Investigators'
Guide
How to Fly an Experiment
Spacelab experiment cycle. Document ESA/NASA
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Investigators'
Guide
Research Announcements
• Edited by NASA and
national space agencies
• Research Announcements
in Space Life Sciences
issued about every 18
months
• Include space and/or
ground-based research
• http://peer1.idi.usra.edu/
• NASA/OBPR (Office of
Biological and Physical
Research)
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Investigators'
Guide
Experiment Design
• Applied Research
– Assessment of operational issues (e.g., countermeasures)
– 1 subject per flight, but many flights (N=10)
– Hardware and protocol extremely simple
• Fundamental Research:
– 1-2 flight/increment, with 2-4 subjects
– Require control studies for small N data set:
• Well-defined dependent variable (i.e., valid, reliable,
relevant, practical)
• Comparison of astronauts’ preflight data with those of
control group on Earth
• Repetition of preflight tests for variance analysis
• Multiple postflight tests to establish return to baseline
– Protocol “integrated” with other experiments
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Investigators'
Guide
Flight Experiment Selection
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3-12 months
Select
For
Definition
Feasability
Review
&
Science
Merit
Proposal
Submission
Concept Definition
•Preliminary science
requirements
•Feasability analysis
•Approach (e.g. hardware,
resources, procedures)
•Assess maturity of approach
•Identify required studies to
ensure feasability
Requirements Definition
•Experiment requirements
•Risk reduction studies
•Biocompatibility
•Procedures development
•Cost estimates & schedule
Select
Flight
Candidate
12-24 months
Experiment Development
•Design, develop, manufacture
experiment unique hardware
•Mission documentation
•Verify experiment interfaces
and procedures
•Crew training
•Logistics for launch
12-24 months
Operations and Data Analysis
•Pre-, in-, and post-flight data
acquisition
•Data analysis
•Data archiving (after one year)
•Publication of results
•Post-flight symposia
Investigators'
Guide
Experiment Integration
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• Weight / Volume — as small and compact as possible
• Simple and intuitive to use — training will be limited
• Power / Data needs — add immensely to complexity;
non-powered or battery-operated if possible
• Long shelf-life, "bullet-proof"
technology desired
• Supports identified standard
— meets laboratory data
analysis capability (e.g.,
provides useful information)
• Modular — easy to replace
and upgrade components
• Think zero-g
Medical equipment testing during parabolic flight. Photo NASA
Investigators'
Guide
Crew Science Training
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• Hardware selection and certification:
– Identify potential hazards to the crew or
to the vehicle
– Describe measures taken to eliminate
or minimize those risks
• Experimental protocol must be approved
by committee on human/animal research
policy and procedures (Institutional
Review Board)
• Inform the candidate crewmembers about
the rationale of the research and the
associated risk (Informed Consent)
• Brief the crew operator about the science
and suggest appropriate changes in the
flight protocol to maximize data return
Photo NASA
Investigators'
Guide
Crew Training Overview
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Investigators'
Guide
Experiment Document
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• Experiment objectives
• Equipment description
• Experiment procedures
– Nominal
– Malfunctions
• Scheduled pre-, in-, and
post-flight activities
• Crew training manual
• Data analysis plan
• Data sharing plan
Photos NASA
Investigators'
Guide
Example of Experiment Timeline
Example of a 12-hour timeline in orbit for the 7 crewmembers of a Shuttle mission. Document NASA
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Investigators'
Guide
Example of Payload Crew Activity Plan
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Investigators'
Guide
Module Configuration
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Investigators'
Guide
Example of Experimental Procedure
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Investigators'
Guide
Science Control Center
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Photos NASA
Investigators'
Guide
Ground-to-Space Communications
S-band:
Ku-band:
13 - 128 kbps
3Mbps up
6Mbps down
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Investigators'
Guide
Additional Reading
• Carey W (2001) The International Space Station European Users
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Guide. Noordwijk, NL: European Space Agency, UIC-ESA-UM-001
Clément G (2003) Fundamentals of Space Medicine. Dordrecht:
Kluwer Academic Publishers
ESA (1979) Spacelab Users Manual. Paris, France: European
Space Agency, DP/ST(79)3
International Space Life Sciences Working Group (2001) Space Life
Sciences and Space Sciences Experiments Information Package.
Joels KM, Kennedy GP (1982) The Space Shuttle Operator’s
Manual. New York, NY: Ballantine Books
Longdon N (1983) Spacelab Data Book. Paris, france: ESA
Technical Publications Branch, ESA BR-14
NASA (1986) STS Investigators’ Guide. Huntsville, AL: Marshall
Spaceflight Center, PMS-021
NASA (2000) Experiment Document. Format and Instructions for
Human Flight Research Experiments. Houston, TX: NASA Johnson
Space Center, Biomedical Systems Test and Project Management
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