| By Xuan Zhong |
NASA has announced it will fund eight short-term research projects, each receiving $150,000, that focus on the physiological and psychological challenges astronauts may encounter while flying in space. All of the projects are for one year and the research will be conducted on Earth for the time being.
The eight projects specifically investigate changes in bone microstructure during spaceflight, muscle atrophy in microgravity, the effects of proton radiation exposure on bone health, and ways to mitigate radiation-induced brain inflammation in space.
These research programs are subject to time, funding, environmental, and other constraints. Although the programs are limited in scope and are regarded as smaller tests for NASA’s research on the effects of the space environment on the human body, researchers continue to advocate and plan for larger-scale research programs that will more closely simulate conditions for the space program.
Photo Credit: NASA