Re­search in­to the hu­man phys­i­ol­o­gy of weight­less­ness

Bed rest studies

Re­search in­to the hu­man phys­i­ol­o­gy of weight­less­ness

If astronauts are to live for long periods in space, on the Moon or on Mars in the future, effective countermeasures must be developed to deal with the negative effects of weightlessness and reduced gravity. Bedrest studies are considered to be the gold standard in space medical research when it comes to simulating the effect of weightlessness on the human body on Earth.

In a zero-gravity environment, muscles and bones atrophy significantly, body fluids shift to the upper body, and there is less strain placed on the whole cardiovascular system, which then loses efficiency. In a nutshell, the degenerative process speeds up in space compared with what would happen on Earth.

Research into the human physiology of weightlessness is important not just for astronauts to maintain their health and fitness in space, but also for people on Earth. This is why space medicine can be just as valuable as research into health on Earth.

Lying in bed for the sake of science

Bed rest studies are regarded in space medicine research as the gold standard for simulating the effects of weightlessness on the body directly on Earth, without the need for a space flight. The effects observed in participants in long-term bed rest studies are comparable to those experienced by astronauts in space. This is achieved, for example, by having participants lie in a head-down position for several weeks. This causes bodily fluids to shift to the upper half of the body, much as they do in weightlessness. Depending on the research question, bed rest studies even offer advantages over space missions when it comes to simulating various aspects on Earth first, as conditions are easier to control here.

At the DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine, we have gained a great deal of experience in the field of short- and long-term bed rest studies; frequently, this has involved collaboration with scientific teams from NASA and ESA, amongst others.

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Multimedia

Bed rest study at :envihab
On 25 March 2019, DLR launched AGBRESA (Artificial Gravity Bed Rest Study), the first long-term bed rest study conducted together with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the US space agency NASA. For the first time, the use of artificial gravity as a possible countermeasure against the negative effects of weightlessness on the human body will be investigated.
Image: 1/7, Credit:
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Experiments on the tilt table
In the study SpaceCOT, DLR scientists placed subjects on a tilt table to study their bodies' reactions to the head-down position.
Image: 2/7, Credit:
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Breakfast in bed
Even during mealtimes, participants must remain in the six-degree head-down tilt position. Straws or drinking bottles are indispensable for fluid intake throughout the study.
Image: 7/7, Credit:

Blog posts

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Background articles

The DLR Short-Arm Centrifuge

The DLR Short-Arm Centrifuge, Module 1 at the :envihab research facility of the DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Cologne, is a special unit and the only one of its kind in the world, offering enhanced possibilities for researching the effects of altered gravity, especially as a countermeasure to the health risks that occur in microgravity conditions.

Living and simulation facility/residential research facility (Module 3 at :envihab)

The living and simulation area of the high-tech medical research facility :envihab of DLR’s Institute of Aerospace Medicine in Cologne is a highly complex and completely unique residential research facility.

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Article: Lying down in the name of science

433.3 KB | PDF

Bedrest studies explore spaceflight-related diseases

:envihab brochure

1.6 MB | PDF

Future Research for Space and Earth

Contact

Philipp Burtscheidt

Senior editor DLR media relations
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Corporate Communications
Linder Höhe, 51147 Cologne
Tel: +49 2203 601-2323