| Basic Training Report, December 1999
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In December, the astronaut candidates (ASCANs) received lectures and hands-on
training to acquire knowledge and skills needed for medical and life science
experiments to be conducted aboard the ISS.
Here is a report of part of the space medicine and life science hands on
training.
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Space medicine hands-on training "Physiological reaction during
exercise" |
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ASCAN Hoshide on an ergometer.
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Physical tests are planned to be conducted once a month on orbit to check
the crew's physical condition such as lung and heart functions. For example,
oxygen consumption level is measured from the crew's breath while he/she
exercises on an ergometer. The ASCANs learned how to operate the equipment,
the correct method for measurement, and how to interpret the data.
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Space medicine hands-on training "Vestibular nerve system" |
Many astronauts experience spacial disorientation several minutes to several
days after they enter a microgravity environment, sometimes causing nausea
and vomiting. On the Earth, we acquire body position or movement information
from three kinds of sensor organs. One is visual information. The second
information is from the vestibular organ which is located in the inner
ear. This information enables us to sense rotation, gravity and acceleration.
The third information is deep sensibility sensed by an organ in muscles.
This information enables us to feel muscle tension or pressure applied
to it and helps us judge our physical situation. Using the data from these
3 sensors we can judge our physical position and situation. However, since
there is no gravity in space, different information is inputted to the
brain, causing confusion. This is thought to be the most probable cause
of spacial disorientation.
In Tsukuba Space Center, devices a horizontal rotating chair, a pendulum
chair, or linear lab sled were employed to evaluate vestibular nerve system
functions and to investigate the causes of spacial disorientation and countermeasures
for it.
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Life science hands on training "Nuclear acid analysis" |
Life science hands-on training was conducted to learn general experiment
techniques necessary for life science experiments performed on the ISS.
During this nuclear acid analysis hands-on training, the ASCANs learned
four basic genetic engineering techniques, extracting nucleic acid from
blood and cells, reverse transcription reaction which creates DNA from
RNA, PCR which increases the target DNA, and nucleic acid electrophoresis.
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| From left ASCAN Furukawa, Hoshide and Sumino |
ASCAN Furukawa perform nucleic-acid extraction
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@The next basic training report will be issued in early February.
Last Updated : January 14, 2000
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