Space! How do we perceive it?
Perhaps space outside the earth’s atmosphere is not hostile, but it requires special training to go out and explore. The most curious question being can man survive these extreme conditions of near weightlessness and cosmic radiations?
Fig 1: The NASA Life Sciences Translational Path. It moves from basic research to human exploration applications with bi-directionality options. As knowledge is applied along this path (top arrows) questions may arise that can best be addressed by more basic research (bottom arrows) in order to support further progress toward successful human exploration
Image Courtesy : NPJ Microgravity article – ‘From the bench to exploration medicine: NASA life sciences translational research for human exploration and habitation missions’ – Joshua S.Alwood et al
Several missions have been planned and executed out since then in sending model organisms in outer space, from fruit flies, wasps, beetles and even dogs and monkeys. The first human flight proved to have the ability to conduct scientific research in space. Thus, further spaceflight missions marked not only a high level of theoretical and practical achievements of mankind, but it seems that it also marked a new era in the development of human civilization – man stepping out of its gravity cradle into a radically new environment.
Indeed, flying in outer space in a manned spacecraft is like a tiny island life in the desolate environment. Lot of this has been possible only with not only advances in technology, but also addressing a number of related problems associated with the life and work of a man in the unusual and confined environment of space flight. It was necessary to rely on a solid foundation of knowledge underlying these problems.
Fig 3 : Six Decades of Space Biology Research
Image Courtesy : National Academy of Science, National Research Council, Committee on Biological & Physical Sciences in Space
Initial stages of finding practical ways for space exploration have been associated with the creation and launch of automated vehicles into orbit and to other planets, later came along manned flight and long duration flights to space stations and planetary missions. Theoretical studies and researches in the field of space technology, engineering-driven aircraft and equipment designing strongly and dramatically stimulated the development of many sciences, including the most recent branch of knowledge – space biology.
As expected, space flights are connected with a number of factors impacting the human body. The factors caused by dynamics of flight such as acceleration, vibration, noise and zero gravity. The factors characterize outer space as a habitat where there is high degree of a sparseness of the atmosphere, ultraviolet and infrared beams, radio and the microwave radiations, ionizing radiation, etc. Also, the factors connected with long stay of the crew in cabins limited on volume of spacecrafts and isolation as a part of small collectives, the artificial gas environment, the changed biological rhythm, effect on psycho sociology etc
Over the past decade results obtained in space biology have had a remarkable influence on the current thinking on the role gravity plays at all levels of life, from the organisation of a single cell to the nature of gravity-driven responses in more highly developed organisms including man. Space experiments have invalidated quite a number of established theories about the mechanics of dynamic behaviour in certain plant and animal systems. They have generated new questions and new insights.
Fig 3 : Physical effects of living and working in space
Image Courtesy : Nature Reviews Rheumatology, review article, ‘Skeletal changes during and after spaceflight’ by Laurence Vico & Alan Hargens
The past decade of space biology has thrown light on the face that gravity plays an important role in a variety of biological processes, such as the vestibular systems in animals and root tips in plants. Weight-carrying structures like the mammalian skeleton, which are dynamic and adapt to changes in the loading environment, can also be expected to be influenced by gravity. There has been compelling evidence about the fact that this is at the sub-cellular level, in the sub-micrometre-sized world, where the force of gravity is almost negligible if compared with the forces governing molecular interactions. There are also conditions in which the weightless environment influences the cellular machinery fundamentally.
One of the most important findings till date has been the remarkable tolerance of higher organisms to microgravity, even for extended periods of time. However, it quickly became apparent that profound changes are induced in the human body once it is deprived of the ever-present gravity stimulus. Within minutes of launch, there are effects seen in the human body, such as disorientation with respect to the environment, or rapid displacements of body fluids from the lower part to the thorax and head. And with increasing exposure to microgravity, profound diminution of muscle mass and strength occurs, along with loss of bone minerals and degradation of its structure. On the other hand, the long-term effects of space radiation on the human body are still totally unknown.
Fig 4: Effect of spaceflight on human body
Image Courtesy : Canadian Space Agency
Some of the topics in space biology that serve as research focus are:
- One of the most interesting findings to date is the strong influence weightlessness can have on signal transduction in in vitro cultures of lymphoid, epidermoid and osteogenic cells.Hence the immunological dysfunction, wound healing problems, and the occurrence of bone demineralization during space flight may have a base at the cellular level.
- Frequent observations of gravity influences on cell proliferation, especially in unicellular organisms and in plants, and on the occurrence of chromosomal aberrations have also been noted
- Early embryogenic stages have revealed consistent differences in microgravity in insects, fungi, plants, fishes and amphibia, but surprisingly these differences do not seem to affect the later stages of development.
- Astrobotany: which is a new emerging field of research and studies the challenges of plant cultivation in outer space to help develop a self sustaining medium for future space expeditions
- Space medicine and biology research are important for national activity in space, and it requires continuing fundamental and applied research in manned and automatic space missions. Certain theoretical and experimental basis for medical support of manned missions to Moon and Mars has been developed. Newer and advanced scientific technologies will be used for more active study of biomedical problems of inter- planetary manned missions
This Course is For:
- Students in their B.Sc / B.Tech / M.Sc / M.Tech/ PhD in any science field, B.pharm/M.pharm/MBBS who are interested in taking up space biology as a career
- Aspiring researchers who wishes to explore more and contribute towards the search for habitable environments and life beyond Earth and
- Science enthusiasts who like to stay updated about the ongoing research, advances and future prospects in this interesting field
- Since this subject integrates multiple disciplines, students interested in pursuing intensive research in one or more of the following domains under space biology can also enrol : microbio/biochem/biotechnology, astrophysics, cosmochemistry, biogeochemistry, genomics, geology, planetary science, geophysics, chemistry and biochemistry as well as geoscience education
- Basically anybody who is EAGER TO LEARN to stay in line and gain knowledge from research to technologies that would be used in future space explorations; are eligible to take up this course.
Happy Learning!