NASA's Crew-12 Mission Set to Study Human Adaptation to Altered Gravity
Astronauts on board NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 are preparing for a long-duration science mission to the International Space Station (ISS), where they will conduct human health studies focused on understanding how their bodies adapt to low-gravity environments.
As part of this research, crew members will participate in various experiments, including ultrasounds of blood vessels to study altered circulation, simulated lunar landings to assess disorientation during gravitational transitions, and other tasks. These tests aim to help NASA plan for extended stays in space and future exploration missions.
One new study, dubbed "Venous Flow," seeks to determine whether time aboard the ISS increases the risk of crew members developing blood clots. In weightlessness, fluid shifts can affect circulation, potentially leading to serious health issues like strokes.
To conduct this research, astronauts will undergo preflight and postflight MRIs, ultrasound scans, blood draws, and blood pressure checks. During the flight, they will also capture their own jugular vein ultrasounds, take blood pressure readings, and draw blood samples for analysis after their return to Earth.
Another study, "Manual Piloting," involves astronauts performing multiple simulated Moon landings before, during, and after the mission. This investigation aims to assess their piloting and decision-making skills, as well as their ability to operate a spacecraft after adapting from one gravity environment to another.
Researchers are concerned about the risk of astronauts experiencing disorientation from gravitational transitions, which can make tasks like landing a spacecraft challenging. The study will help NASA develop strategies for training Artemis crews for future Moon missions.
In addition to these studies, researchers will also investigate potential treatments for spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS), a condition that causes vision and eye changes in astronauts. A daily B vitamin supplement may potentially alleviate SANS symptoms.
The data collected from these studies will help NASA improve spacecraft design to better protect crews from landing forces and reduce the risk of injuries during transition to Earth's gravity. By advancing our understanding of human adaptation to altered gravity, NASA aims to keep its astronauts healthy and mission-ready for future space exploration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
Astronauts on board NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 are preparing for a long-duration science mission to the International Space Station (ISS), where they will conduct human health studies focused on understanding how their bodies adapt to low-gravity environments.
As part of this research, crew members will participate in various experiments, including ultrasounds of blood vessels to study altered circulation, simulated lunar landings to assess disorientation during gravitational transitions, and other tasks. These tests aim to help NASA plan for extended stays in space and future exploration missions.
One new study, dubbed "Venous Flow," seeks to determine whether time aboard the ISS increases the risk of crew members developing blood clots. In weightlessness, fluid shifts can affect circulation, potentially leading to serious health issues like strokes.
To conduct this research, astronauts will undergo preflight and postflight MRIs, ultrasound scans, blood draws, and blood pressure checks. During the flight, they will also capture their own jugular vein ultrasounds, take blood pressure readings, and draw blood samples for analysis after their return to Earth.
Another study, "Manual Piloting," involves astronauts performing multiple simulated Moon landings before, during, and after the mission. This investigation aims to assess their piloting and decision-making skills, as well as their ability to operate a spacecraft after adapting from one gravity environment to another.
Researchers are concerned about the risk of astronauts experiencing disorientation from gravitational transitions, which can make tasks like landing a spacecraft challenging. The study will help NASA develop strategies for training Artemis crews for future Moon missions.
In addition to these studies, researchers will also investigate potential treatments for spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS), a condition that causes vision and eye changes in astronauts. A daily B vitamin supplement may potentially alleviate SANS symptoms.
The data collected from these studies will help NASA improve spacecraft design to better protect crews from landing forces and reduce the risk of injuries during transition to Earth's gravity. By advancing our understanding of human adaptation to altered gravity, NASA aims to keep its astronauts healthy and mission-ready for future space exploration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
I mean, can you imagine being in space for months or even years and then coming back to Earth with vision changes? It's crazy! They're looking into B vitamin supplements as a potential treatment, which is cool, but what if it doesn't work? 
Then there's the "Venous Flow" study about blood clots... I remember when they did that Crew-11 mission and one of the astronauts got a blood clot 
. It was a big concern back then. Anyway, these studies are crucial for NASA to make sure their astronauts are healthy and safe on long-duration missions...
They're trying out some pretty radical stuff here, like simulating lunar landings mid-flight 
... How's that gonna affect their mental state? And what's with all these blood tests and scans? Are we sure we won't be invading astronauts' personal space with all this poking and prodding? 
Still, I guess it's a step in the right direction for us to learn more about human adaptation to altered gravity... just hope they're not pushing themselves too hard 
this is so cool 
that they're testing out new ways to prevent blood clots in space 
like they're doing these ultrasounds of blood vessels on board 
and they also have a study on "Manual Piloting" where astronauts are simulating moon landings multiple times 
it's all about making sure the crew is healthy and can do their job safely 
i mean we got ppl floatin arond up there wit out a net lol but seriously these astronauts r riskin so much 4 our understanding of human adaptability its like woah what they doin is actually real & science-y 
! the more they study human adaption to low-gravity environments, the more it makes me wanna live in zero gravity lol. i mean who wouldn't want to feel weightless for a bit? 
but seriously, these studies are super important for future missions and we should be cheering them on 
.
simulating moon landings is no easy feat. i'm sure it's not as simple as just pressing a button and saying "blast off" 
. who knows what they'll discover next? 
. It's crazy how our bodies react when we're in weightlessness, who knew fluid shifts could cause circulation issues? 
. By analyzing the responses of astronauts to these tests, we can gain a deeper understanding of how our bodies adapt (or struggle to adapt) in microgravity environments.