Biological and Medical Research in Space: An Overview of Life Sciences Research in Microgravity

581 Pages·1996·15.635 MB·English

by  David Moore, Augusto Cogoli (auth.), David Moore, Peter Bie, Heinz Oser (eds.)

D. Moore, P. Bie, H. Oser (Eds.) - Biological and Medical Research in Space
Springer
Berlin
Heidelberg
New York
Barcelona
Budapest
Hong Kong
London
Milan
Paris
Santa Clara
Singapore
Tokyo
D. Moore P. Bie H. Oser (Eds.)
Biological
and Medical Research
in Space
An Overview of Life Sciences Research in Microgravity
With 33 Figures
Springer
DAVID MOORE
University of Manchester
School of Biological Sciences
1.800, Stopford Building
Manchester M13 9PT
United Kingdom
PETER BIE
University of Copenhagen
Institute of Medical Physiology
Panum Institute
Blegdamsvej 3
2200 Copenhagen
Denmark
HEINZ OSER
European Space Agency
8-10 rue Mario-Nikis
75738 Paris Cedex 15
France
ISBN-13: 978-3-642-64694-2 e-ISBN-13: 978-3-642-6lO99-8
DOl: lO.1007/978-3-642-6lO99-8
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Biological and medical research in space:
an overview of life sciences research in microgravity/ed. by David Moore ... - Berlin; Heidelberg; New
York; Barcelona; Budapest; Hong Kong; London; Milan; Paris; Santa Clara; Singapore; Tokyo: Springer,
1996
ISBN-13: 978-3-642-64694-2
NE: Moore, David [Hrsg.]
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Preface
Life Science studies in space were initially driven by the need to explore how
man could survive spaceflight conditions; the effects of being launched un
der high accelerations, exposed to weightlessness and radiation for different
periods of time, and returned to Earth in safety. In order to substantiate the
detailed knowledge of potentially adverse effects, many model experiments
were launched using organisms which ranged from bacteria, plants, inverte
brates, rodents and primates through to man. Although no immediate life
threatening effects were found, these experiments can be considered today as
the precursors to life science research in space. Many unexplained effects on
these life forms were attributed to the condition of weightlessness. Most of
them were poorly recorded, poorly published, or left simply with anecdotal
information.
Only with the advent of Skylab, and later Spacelab, did the idea emerge, and
indeed the infrastructure permit, weightlessness to be considered as an ex
tended tool for research into some fundamental mechanisms or processes as
sociated with the effect of gravity on organisms at all levels. The initial hy
pothesis to extrapolate from hypergravity through 1 x g to near 0 x g effects
could no longer be retained, since many of the experiment results were seen
to contradict the models or theories in the current textbooks of biology and
physiology.
The past decade has been dedicated primarily to exploratory research. Re
cently however, there has been a move towards controlled experiments, prob
ing into the effect of micro gravity on all levels of organisms, and employing
in-flight and ground-based 1 x g controls.
It is against this background and the move to rigorous in-depth research that
the ESA Microgravity Advisory Committee (MAC) proposed that in the fu
ture, ESA should endeavour to focus the scientific research programmes in
micro gravity ('weightlessness') towards what are perceived as the most pro
mising areas, and also seek to exploit current strengths. At the same time,
ESA was required to remain open to new ideas in micro gravity research, as
befits a recent and developing scientific activity.
This document was prepared originally, essentially as an internal report, to
provide ESA with the essential critical review of the whole Space Life
Sciences research field, preparatory to establishing the future research direc
tions. It was recognised, however, that the document also provides a very
timely overview of the field as this initial exploratory research phase comes
to an end to be replaced by the in-depth experimental programmes which
VI Preface
will become more accessible in the era of International Space Station Alpha.
The review is, therefore, offered to the wider scientific community as a pub
lished reference work in the hope that it will provide a foundation for, and
stimulate, future research.
The last chapter of this book is different from the rest. It provides a sum
mary overview of the microgravity life science experiments which have been
carried out since 1980 by ESA, by ESA member states, and by the ESA inter
national partners. This is accompanied by a summary of the current and fu
ture research plans and missions, where known, for each of the ESA member
states, and the international partners. This statistical information is pre
sented to allow future plans to be placed in their natural context.
Chapters 1 to 7 are scientific reviews which have been prepared by recog
nized experts in the areas concerned. These cover the main areas of current
space life sciences research, Biology, Physiology, Radiation Biology and Exo
biology. An important point is that, from ,the outset, the intention was to
provide a critical analysis of what has been accomplished so far in each of
these research areas, coupled with critical assessment of the manner in
which it has been accomplished and the reliability of the conclusions drawn
(paying attention to the distinction between peer-reviewed and non-peer-re
viewed publications).
Critical assessment is an ethos which runs through the entire preparative
phase of this book. The original document provided to ESA was critically ex
amined in depth, on a chapter-by-chapter basis, by appropriate experts from
ESA's Life Sciences Working Group (LSWG) and the MAC. The authors were
asked to take account of the resulting criticisms and suggestions in revising
their contributions to the document, and finally, the LSWG met to consider
the document as a whole and to make their own recommendations for the
future focused life science research programme. Subsequently, the authors
were invited to present their views and recommendations at a meeting with
MAC which included members of the LSWG. Rarely can authors have faced
so much peer review, and it must be even rarer for so much of the peer re
view process to be face-to-face!
The Editors wish to take this opportunity to thank all those who contributed
advice and constructive criticism during the preparation of the text, but
most of all we thank the authors for turning the ideas and plans into reality.
David Moore, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester
Peter Bie, Institute of Medical Physiology, University of Copenhagen
Heinz Oser, European Space Agency, Paris
Contents
Preface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. V
Chapter 1:
Gravitational and space biology:
DAVID MOORE & AUGUSTO COGOLlo .••.••....•.•.....•..•......
Chapter 2:
Physiology of cardiovascular, respiratory, interstitial, endocrine,
immune, and muscular systems:
HELMUT G. HINGHOFER-SZALKAY .•. . • . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . • . . .. 107
Chapter 3:
Kidney function and fluid homeostasis:
P. BIE, M. H. BESTLE & 1. B. JOHANSEN • . . • . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . .. 154
Chapter 4:
Neurosensory and sensory-motor functions:
GILLES CLEMENT & M. F. RESCHKE •••..•..•.•.•••..•.......•... 178
Chapter 5:
Bone and space flight: an overview:
JACK J. W. A. VAN LOON, J. PAUL VELDHUIJZEN & ELIZABETH H. BURGER 259
Chapter 6:
Radiation biology:
JijRGEN KIEFER, M. KOST & K. SCHENK-MEUSER .•..•••.....•.•..•. 300
Chapter 7:
Exobiology:
GERDA HORNECK . . . . . . . • . . • . . . . . • . . • . • . . • . • . . . . • . • . . . . . . .. 368
Chapter 8:
National and international space life sciences research programmes,
1980 to 1993 - and beyond:
BRIAN FITTON & DAVID MOORE •...•..•..•....•..........•.... 432
VIII Contents
Appendix: Some comments on biological aspects of life support systems:
HELMUT G. HINGHOFER-SZALKAY & DAVID MOORE ••.•.••.•.••.••• 542
Index ................................................... 562
Contributors
Dr M. H. Bestle, Institute of Medical Physiology, Panum Institute,
Blegdamsvej 3, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
Prof. P. Bie, Institute of Medical Physiology, Panum Institute, Blegdamsvej 3,
University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
Prof. Elizabeth H. Burger, ACTA-VU, Department of Oral Cell Biology,
v.d. Boechorststraat 7, 1058 VJ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Dr Gilles Clement, Laboratoire de la Perception et de l' Action, College de
France, 15 rue de l'Ecole de Medicine, F-75270 Paris Cedex 06, France
Prof. Augusto Cogoli, Space Biology Group, ETH Technopark,
Pfingstweidstrasse 30, CH-8005 Zurich, Switzerland
Dr Brian Fitton, Hoofdstraat 157, 2171 BB, Sassenheim, The Netherlands
Prof. Dr med. Helmut G. Hinghofer-Szalkay, Volume Regulation & Space
Medicine Research Group, Department of Physiology, University of Graz,
Harrachgasse 21, A-801O Graz, Austria
Dr Gerda Horneck, DLR Institut fUr Flugmedizin, Porz-Wahnheide,
Linder H6he, D-51147 K6ln, Germany
Dr L. B. Johansen, Institute of Medical Physiology, Panum Institute,
Blegdamsvej 3, University of Copenhagen, DK-22oo Copenhagen, Denmark
prof. Dr Jtirgen Kiefer, Strahlenzentrum der Justus-Liebig-Universitat,
Leihgesterner Weg 217, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
Dr M. Kost, Strahlenzentrum der Justus-Liebig-Universitat,
Leihgesterner Weg 217, D-35392 Giessen, Germany
X Autoren
Dr David Moore, School of Biological Sciences, 1.800 Stopford Building,
The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
Dr Heinz Oser, European Space Agency, 8-10 Rue Mario Nikis, F-75738 Paris
Cedex 15, France
Dr M. F. Reschke, Space Biomedical Research Institute, Code SDS, NASA
Johnson Space Center, Houston, Tx 77058, U.S.A.
Dr K. Schenk-Meuser, Strahlenzentrum der Justus-Liebig-Universitat,
Leihgesterner Weg 217, D-3S392 Giessen, Germany
Dr Jack J. W. A. van Loon, Bradford Engineering B.V., P.O.Box 120, 4645 ZJ,
Putte,
The Netherlands
Dr J. Paul Veldhuijzen, ACTA-VU, Department of Oral Cell Biology,
v.d. Boechorststraat 7, 1058 VJ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands