Spaceflight may differentially affect gravity and rotation sensors, given the input to the gravity sensor becomes zero but input to the rotation sensor is preserved in space. To examine this, gravity and rotation sensor function will be separately evaluated before and after the ISS mission, and these functions will be correlated to body balance impairment.
These studies are important, because the impaired vestibular system may relate spaceflight-induced medical problems such as gravity sickness, impaired body balance, orthostatic hypotension, and muscle and bone atrophy. To examine mechanisms of spaceflight-induced medical problems, investigators separately evaluate otolith and canal functions, and test whether weak galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) can ameliorate an impaired vestibular function. The purpose of the research is to evaluate otolith and canal functions separately and to correlate those functions to body balance impairment. Additionally, the effect of weak-noise-GVS on body balance will be examined.
Mission | Launch/Start Date | Landing/End Date | Duration |
---|---|---|---|
Expedition 54 | 12/14/2017 | 02/27/2018 | 75 days |
Expedition 55 | 02/27/2018 | 06/03/2018 | 96 days |
Expedition 58 | 12/18/2018 | 03/14/2019 | 85 days |
Expedition 59 | 03/14/2019 | 06/24/2019 | 102 days |
Expedition 60 | 06/24/2019 | 10/03/2019 | 101 days |
Expedition 61 | 10/03/2019 | 02/06/2020 | 126 days |
Expedition 62 | 02/06/2020 | 04/17/2020 | 70 days |
Expedition 63 | 04/17/2020 | 10/21/2020 | 187 days |
Expedition 64 | 10/21/2020 | In progress |