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A woman participating in the “lying down” experiment |
One day, female astronauts will set foot on Mars. When that day comes, they will surely remember the 24 women volunteers who laid on beds for two months while scientists studied human endurance during long-duration space flights.
Two groups of women (each group consisting of 12 individuals) from eight European countries participated in this project called WISE. During the 60 days of the experiment, these volunteers were confined to personal beds tilted at a 6-degree angle, with their heads positioned lower than their feet. This uncomfortable posture leads to physiological changes in the body, mirroring what astronauts experience in weightlessness.
At the end of the “lying down” phase (on November 30), the participating women had to undergo medical examinations and a “rehabilitation” phase lasting until December 20. However, today (December 13), they will appear at a press conference to introduce the initial successes of the research project.
The research results will be announced after analysis is complete, but scientists believe their findings are significant for space research as they help to better understand the roles of nutrition and physical activity in countering the negative effects of weightlessness on the human body during long flights.
NGUYỄN QUÂN (According to Reuters)
