Welcome to W.I.S.E. (Women International Space Simulation for Exploration). Comprising of two group of dedicated volunteers, these women offered their still living bodies to science for 3.5 months to study the effects a prolonged zero gravity environment will have on those of their gender. The reason for this study was to prepare interested parties on what will happen to the first women astronauts as they fly to Mars.
First the 24 women (per group) were split into 3 groups: The Control group, the Vitamins group, and the Exercise group. The Control group, being the laziest of the lot did nothing special.
While lying around doing nothing, they were subject to various medical exams testing how this state of affected bone density, metabolism, heart function, etc. They got some personal time during the day to talk to family and it took them quite a while to perform hygiene each day. I can’t imagine having to shower on my back. Dropping the soap off the side of the bed would be a major drag. Some of them took language or technical classes. Other than not being able to get up, some of the regular complaints were that the food got monotonous. They fed them lots of fruits and vege’s, a little meat. Some of them complained it was too much food.
So after all the fun and games, the 60 days expired and the nasty scientists made them get up and walk. Although they hadn’t forgotten how to walk, their balance and coordination were inhibited, more so for the Vitamins and Control groups. They experienced soreness in muscles and joints and on the bottoms of their feet.
All in all, I am impressed that they were able to do this kind of thing. I wouldn’t be able to. I’d go screaming mad after the first couple of days.
Further Reading:
Study Website
European Space Agency article
Links:
The women are paid to do the job and a good amount at that.The post says that they are not paid.
nolascoalphonso said: “The women are paid to do the job and a good amount at that.The post says that they are not paid.”
The term “volunteer” doesn’t always mean “without pay.” It just means “willing participant.”
I’m sorry. I can’t get past the Need to GET to Mars.
Would men react in a similar fashion? I would think that the muscle fatigue and weight gain would be comparable.
When I was 19 I was in a motorcycle accident and was in traction for exactly 100 days. I could go on and on about the sheer monotony of the entire ordeal but suffice it to say that friends/family/tv/radio/games etc… made the entire ordeal bearable. I do remember that when it was time to “get up” they wheeled my bed into a room where I was put on an inclining table that raised me perhaps 15 degrees/day so that my body had time to acclimate to being vertical.
JustAnotherName said: “I’m sorry. I can’t get past the Need to GET to Mars.”
Yeah, exploration. Who needs it?
your mom
Hahaha.
Otherwise, interesting article. And to be honest, its human nature to explore, the search for other intelligence (if what we have can be called that).
“they had 40 more days of tests and “recovery” which probably included lots of mirror gazing, envying of the skinnier volunteers, and much “Oh I’m so fat, I’ll never get into my size sixes again!!!”.”
…er, wow, how incredibly sexist.
It’s sexist to assume people are concerned with their appearance? Besides, I’ve met girls like that. It isnt a stretch to think some of the women would be doing that heh.
Parents could use this exercise to motivate their kids to get out of bed in the morning. It’s kind of the same approach as making your kid smoke a whole pack of cigarrettes right there in front of you after you catch them with one. I bet they’d be so sick of staying in bed after just one or two days. . . I love my sleep, it’s hard to get me out of bed in the morning especially on the weekends. :)