Paper Session I-C - An Update on Zero Gravity effects on Human Space Flight and a Progress Report on Artificial Gravity Experiments

The future commercialization of space will require increased human presence. This is due to the risk and complexity associated with the manufacture, assembly, operation, maintenance and modification of facilities in space. This human element is a natural outgrowth from the discovery and exploration stages to the habitation phase of space. However, for mankind to be successful in this endeavor, we must build space vehicles and facilities that reflect our “natural” earth environment - when possible. One of those critical environmental factors is gravity and its associated role in the health, orientation and mobility of living organisms. International space flight experience over the past thirty-six years has provided volumes of medical research data on the near term and projected long range effects of micro-gravity on humans. Unfortunately, this analysis is widely scattered in government research libraries, databases and bookshelves around the earth in English, Russian, French, German, Italian and Spanish. Also, these reports are written in highly technical and statistical terms and as such, the results of years of analysis, millions of research dollars and difficult training remain hidden from the general public (who ultimately pay for our space efforts) and the beginning researcher. This paper reviews that research - as currently available from both the Russian and United States manned space programs. Specifically, this paper focuses on the zero-gravity effects on the physiological make-up of man. These effects play a key role in our ability to cope with the detailed and myriad tasks in space