In Toulouse, the Vivaldi III study examines the effects of microgravity on the health of astronauts. Dry immersion or lining: Which method is best to simulate the weightlessness for moon and Mars missions? A year before Sophie Adenot, former alumni at Isae-Supaero, to the international space station, the health of the astronauts becomes a central topic.
While humanity is preparing for new lunar research with the Arpemis program and Martian in 2035, astronauts’ health becomes a priority problem. In Toulouse, the Médes Clinic is the center of the Vivaldi III study in the Rangueil Hospital. This experience aims to compare two methods to strengthen weightlessness: dry immersion and lining.
If the body is exposed to a very low gravity, “body fluids migrate up the body. This phenomenon can cause swelling of the face, influence the view and the heart,” explains Avédis Torossian, internal public health.
These effects are even more noticeable during long stays, as recently the two American astronauts Sunin Williams and Butch Wilmore, who got stuck, for more than nine months in the international space station.
Two simulation models
The dry immersion method plunges volunteers into baths filled with water that were heated to 32 ° C. Your body floats and rests on a tarpaulin without direct contact with water.
At the same time, another model is used: the position in the position at – 6 °. In this position, the volunteer’s head is slightly lower than her feet, which simulates the shift of body fluids of the body.
Volunteers stay in these positions for ten days and are subjected to a series of tests: reaction, view, blood tests and bone tests.
Volunteers of records
Before participating, there are volunteers a number of strict medical examinations. Victor, who is bedridden for six days at – 6 °, admits: “I carried out a complete medical assessment before the experience started.” With 1,200 applications, only 20 men from 27 to 40 were selected.
The 27 -year -old Florian took part in dry immersion for six days. For him “I felt back pain at the beginning, but my body quickly got used to the position”. This certificate is followed by those of others.
Promising results
The first results showed phenomena after five days. Marie-Pierre Bareille, Meddes project manager, states: “We have found that inactivity and weightlessness have quick metabolic effects, whereby insulin resistance is with certain participants. This helps us better understand how this pathophysiological mechanisms are triggered in microgravity”.
It comes to the conclusion that “thanks to these experiences will be better armed to protect the health of astronauts”. The results of Vivaldi III could therefore be crucial to develop preventive strategies in view of the physiological degradation, which is induced by the lack of severity.