Living and Working in Living and Working in Space on Space on STS-40 STS-40

Millie Hughes-Fulford Ph.D.Millie Hughes-Fulford Ph.D.

http://www.spacedu.comhttp://www.spacedu.com

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Crew of STS-40

Sid, Brian, Millie, Jim and Rhea at Ellington AFB ready to go to the Cape in the T-38

Flying to the Cape in the T-38

Changes that Occur in Space

• Space Adaptation Syndrome

• Space Anemia

• Loss of Muscle

• Loss of Bone

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Loss of OS Calcis BoneLoss of OS Calcis Bone

Apollo 14, 16, 18Apollo 14, 16, 18

Skylab 2Skylab 2

Skylab 4Skylab 4

Skylab 3Skylab 3

DAYS 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 DAYS 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

332211

00-1-1-2-2-3-3-4-4-5-5

% D

ensi

ty%

Den

sity

- 6- 6

What is Osteoporosis?What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mass and microscopic breakdown of bone tissue leading to increase in fractures

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Normal Bone Osteoporosis

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Stress Exercise Stimulates Stress Exercise Stimulates Bone Growth Bone Growth

GRAVITYGRAVITY

New Bone Growth

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Fracture Risk in Men and Women

Fractureline

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Factors That Influence Bone

• Lack of Exercise (mechanical stress)

• Inadequate diet• Lack of bone formation

in teenage years

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Studies on Bone

• Calcium level changes during flight

• Hormone changes during flight

• Metabolic studies of effects of spaceflight

For studies on isolated osteoblasts go to http://www.spacedu.com

The commute ‘home’ from the lab through the tunnel was short...

15 seconds

What is this??

M. Hughes-Fulford