There is a need for effective, efficient, multi-system countermeasures against the physiologic deconditioning associated with prolonged exposure to reduced gravity environments for future space exploration missions. The goals and objectives of this project include: the development of optimal prescriptions for use of intermittent inertial loading (with and without exercise) as a multi-system countermeasure to bed rest deconditioning; evaluation of physiologic effects of reduced gravity levels (1/6 G and 3/8 G) in humans; creating and using a model for effective international partnership to perform standardized, jointly determined, multi-site research, thus allowing for full data and knowledge sharing and pooling; gathering seed data to be used in developing and testing multi-system mathematical models of human physiology; and disseminating knowledge gained for benefit of those on Earth. This work includes estimating the deconditioning effects to be expected during prolonged exposure to gravity levels on the lunar (1/6 G) and Martian (3/8 G) surfaces; and exploring the degree to which exercise countermeasure effectiveness can be improved by simultaneous inertial loading of the cardiovascular and sensory-motor systems.
