Living in Space Section A: Basic Research
into
Community & Industry Development in Space
The space life pages deal with just about anything concerning
life in space. Ranges from searches for bacteria in meterorites
to plans for human space colonies.
Section 1 deals with the basic scientific and technology
research on how to live in space. The page also provides
links to resources concerning the possibilities of bacterial
life in space.
Section 2
provides resources about the Moon and the planets, especially
Mars, and how they might sustain human colonies.
Section 3 deals with
creating large scale habitats and industries for large
numbers of people.
Prof. Cheryl Nickerson has led research
into into the surprising effects of microgravity
on salmonella and other infectious diseases,
which may lead to vaccines:
Microgravity Research Competition - sponsored
by the Heinlein
Prize Trust and SpaceX,
will provide $25k and a ride to low earth orbit
and back in the Dragonlab
for the most innovative microgravity experiment
proposal submitted. Proposals are due March 20th
and the winners will be announced on April 18th.
For additional details,
More about crystallization
in microgravity: One occasionally hears
dismissive comments towards microgravity research,
especially related to the growing of protein crystals
in space. Large crystals are essential for determining
the structure and components of important biological
molecules like proteins and they are difficult to
make.
In fact, for a number of proteins the largest crystals
ever created came from space experiments. For example,
..."Borgstahl and Snell got
their first taste of success on the STS-95 Space
Shuttle mission in October 1998 when U.S. Sen. John
Glenn of Ohio helped grow crystals of insulin in
microgravity for the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research
Institute in Buffalo, New York. Snell and Borgstahl
analyzed the quality of the insulin crystals. They
found the space-grown crystals were 34 times larger
than those grown on the ground. (Acta Crystallographic,
2001, D57, 254-259)"... - Researcher
studies how good cells turn bad - MSFC PR - May.2.02
While the experiments so far have not resulted
in any great breakthroughs, the results validate
the assertion that microgravity does in fact assist
in making these complex, fragile crystals. The brief,
infrequent trips on the shuttle have prevented the
kind of long term intensive research like that carried
out in earth bound laboratories.
When full 6 member crews can occupy the ISS, we
can expect to see this technique fully investigated.
This should start in 2010.
See the entry Space
Crystals Projects in the Space Science
section for information about a program that allows
students to create crystal experiments for the space
station.
"As any one of the 400 plus people
who have traveled to space will tell you,
no amount of training can prepare one for
the experience of weightlessness and the
freedom of effortless movement. It remains
something that's still hard to describe
to others. I can say that you get a sense
of total relaxation. The nights I slept
in space were the best nights' sleep I've
had since I was a baby."
Packing
For Mars (2010) by Mary Roach - a book that
covers a wide range of issues involved with living
in microgravity and space in general
YouTube
- Shuttle's Toilet Requires Special Training
"Mike Massimino helps answer the one question
he and other astronauts get asked most often:
"How do you 'go' in space?" Mike catches up
with STS-132 Mission Specialists Steve Bowen
and Piers Sellers as they get some "refreshers"
on the use of shuttle Atlantis' "Space Potty."
(Training includes an "alignment camera.") Bowen,
Sellers and their four crewmates are scheduled
to launch aboard Atlantis for the International
Space Station on May 14."
