Problems of space medicine. Project on astronomy and biology on the topic "cosmonautics". History of the development of science

Second half of the 20th century was marked not only by theoretical research to find ways to develop outer space, but also the practical creation and launch of automatic vehicles into near-Earth orbits and other planets, the first manned flight into space and long-term flights at orbital stations, and the landing of man on the surface of the Moon. Theoretical research in the field of space technology and the design of controlled aircraft has dramatically stimulated the development of many sciences, including a new branch of knowledge - space medicine.

The main objectives of space medicine are the following:

ensuring the vital activity and safety of the astronaut at all stages of space flight, maintaining his health and high performance;

study of the influence of space flight conditions on the human body, including the study of phenomenology and mechanisms of occurrence of shifts in physiological parameters in space flight;

development of methods for the prevention and provision of medical assistance to an astronaut in the event of adverse events associated with the impact of flight conditions on the human body;

development of methods for selecting and training cosmonauts;

Space medicine in its historical development has gone from modeling the factors of space flight in laboratory conditions and during animal flights on rockets and satellites to research related to long-term flights of orbital stations and flights of international crews.

In the formation and development of space biology and medicine in the USSR, the works of the founders of astronautics K.E. were important. Tsiolkovsky, F.A. Zander and others, who formulated a number of biological problems, the resolution of which was supposed to be a necessary prerequisite for human exploration of outer space. The theoretical aspects of space biology and medicine are based on the classical principles of such founders of natural science as I.M. Sechenov, K.A. Timiryazev, I.P. Pavlov, V.V. Dokuchaev, L.A. Orbeli and others, in whose works the doctrine of the interaction of the organism and the external environment is reflected as a red thread, fundamental issues of the organism’s adaptation to changing environmental conditions have been developed.

Work carried out in the field of aviation medicine, as well as research carried out on biophysical rockets and spacecraft in the 50-60s, played a major role in the formation of a number of provisions and sections of space medicine.

The practical exploration of outer space with the help of manned flights began with the historical flight of Yu.A. Gagarin, the world's first cosmonaut, committed on April 12, 1961 on the Vostok spacecraft. We all remember his simple human phrase. “Let's go,” uttered during the launch of the Vostok spacecraft. This phrase succinctly and at the same time quite succinctly characterized the greatest achievement of mankind. Among other things, the flight of Yu.A. Gagarin was an examination of the maturity of both cosmonautics in general and space medicine in particular.

The medical and biological research conducted before this flight and the life support system developed on its basis provided normal living conditions in the spacecraft cabin necessary for the astronaut to complete the flight. The system of selection and training of cosmonauts created by this time, the system of biotelemetric monitoring of the condition and performance of a person in flight and the hygienic parameters of the cabin determined the possibility and safety of the flight.

However, all previous work, all the numerous flights of animals on spaceships could not answer some questions related to human flight. So, for example, before the flight Yu.A. Gagarin did not know how conditions of weightlessness affect purely human functions: thinking, memory, coordination of movements, perception of the surrounding world, etc. Only the flight of the first man into space showed that these functions do not undergo significant changes in weightlessness. That's why Yu.A. Gagarin is called throughout the world the pioneer of “star roads”, the man who paved the way for all subsequent manned flights.

In the 20 years that have passed since the flight of Yu.A. Gagarin, humanity steadily and comprehensively continued to explore outer space. And in connection with this glorious anniversary, there seems to be an opportunity not only to analyze today’s achievements in space medicine, but also to make a historical excursion into the past and the decades preceding it.

Throughout its entire development, space flights can be divided into several stages. The first stage was the preparation of a human flight into outer space; it covered a significant period of time. It was accompanied by such studies as: 1) generalization of data from physiology and aviation medicine that studied the influence of unfavorable environmental factors on the body of animals and humans; 2) conducting numerous laboratory studies in which some factors of space flight were simulated and their effect on the human body was studied; 3) specially prepared experiments on animals during rocket flights into the upper atmosphere, as well as during orbital flights on artificial Earth satellites.

The main tasks at that time were aimed at studying the question of the fundamental possibility of human flight into space and solving the problem of creating systems that would ensure a person’s stay in the cabin of a spacecraft during an orbital flight. The fact is that at that time there was a definite opinion of a number of fairly authoritative scientists about the incompatibility of human life with conditions of long-term weightlessness, since this could supposedly cause significant disturbances in the function of breathing and blood circulation. In addition, they feared that a person might not be able to withstand the psychological stress of the flight.

In our country, since the early 50s, a series of studies have been carried out with animals during vertical launch of rockets to altitudes of 100, 200 and 450 km. In total, 52 dogs were launched on rockets in the Soviet Union, and the duration of weightlessness, depending on the flight altitude, ranged from 4 to 10 minutes. An analysis of the results of these studies showed that during rocket flight, only moderate changes in physiological parameters were observed, manifested in increased heart rate and increased blood pressure when exposed to accelerations during takeoff and landing of a rocket (with a tendency to normalize or even reduce these indicators while in zero gravity).

In general, exposure to rocket flight factors did not cause significant disturbances in the physiological functions of animals. Biological experiments during vertical rocket launches have shown that dogs can satisfactorily withstand fairly large overloads and short-term weightlessness.

In 1957, the USSR launched the second artificial Earth satellite with the dog Laika. This event was of fundamental importance for space medicine, since for the first time it allowed a highly organized animal to remain in conditions of weightlessness for a sufficiently long time. As a result, satisfactory tolerance of space flight conditions was established by animals. Subsequent experiments with six dogs during the flights of the second, third, fourth and fifth Soviet satellites returning to Earth provided a wealth of material on the reactions of the main physiological systems organisms of highly organized animals (both in flight and on Earth, including the post-flight period).

The cabins of these same satellite ships housed biological objects of varying complexity: microorganisms, seeds of various plants, cultures of human epithelial tumor cells, small preserved areas of rabbit and human skin, insects, black and white laboratory mice and rats, guinea pigs. All studies carried out with the help of satellites provided extensive experimental material that firmly convinced scientists of the safety of human flight (from a health point of view) in space.

American scientists came to similar conclusions, who somewhat later carried out research on monkeys during suborbital and orbital (two orbits) flights of spacecraft (1961).

During the same period, the tasks of creating life support systems for astronauts were also solved - a system for supplying oxygen to the cabin, removing carbon dioxide and harmful impurities, as well as nutrition, water supply, medical control and disposal of human waste products. Space medicine specialists took a direct part in this work.

The second stage, which coincided with the first decade of manned flights (1961-1970), was characterized by short-term human space flights (from one orbit in 108 minutes to 18 days). It begins with the historical flight of Yu.A. Gagarin.

Medical results biological research, carried out during this time, reliably proved not only the possibility of a person staying in space flight conditions, but also maintaining his sufficient performance when performing various tasks in a limited-volume spacecraft cabin and when working in an unsupported space outside the spacecraft. However, a number of changes were identified in the motor sphere, cardiovascular system, blood system and other systems of the human body.

It was also found that the adaptation of astronauts to the usual conditions of earthly existence after space flights lasting from 18 days proceeds with certain difficulties and is accompanied by a more pronounced tension in regulatory mechanisms than the astronaut’s adaptation to weightlessness. Thus, with a further increase in flight time, it was necessary to create systems of appropriate preventive measures, improve medical monitoring systems and develop methods for predicting the condition of crew members during the flight and after its completion.

During manned flights under these programs, along with medical research of the crews, biological experiments were also carried out. Thus, on board the ships “Vostok-3”, “Vostok-6”, “Voskhod”, “Voskhod-2”, “Soyuz” there were such biological objects as lysogenic bacteria, chlorella, tradescantia, hella cells; normal and cancerous human cells, dry plant seeds, turtles.

The third stage of manned space flights is associated with long-term flights of astronauts on board orbital stations; it coincides with the past decade (1971 -1980). A distinctive feature of manned flights at this stage, in addition to the significant duration of a person’s stay in flight, is the increase in the amount of free space in living quarters - from the spacecraft cabin to extensive living areas inside the orbital station. The latter circumstance had a dual significance for space medicine: on the one hand, it became possible to place on board the station a variety of equipment for medical and biological research and means of preventing the adverse effects of weightlessness, and on the other hand, to significantly reduce the impact on the human body from factors limiting motor activity - hypokinesia (i.e. associated with small sizes of free space).

It should be said that more comfortable living conditions, personal hygiene, etc. can be created at orbital stations. And the use of a complex of preventive agents can significantly smooth out the body’s adverse reactions to weightlessness, which has a great positive effect. However, on the other hand, this, to a certain extent, smooths out the reactions of the human body to weightlessness, which makes it difficult to analyze the emerging shifts for various systems of the human body that are characteristic of conditions of weightlessness.

The first long-term orbital station (Salyut) was launched in the USSR in 1971. In subsequent years, manned flights were carried out on board the orbital stations Salyut-3, -4, -5, -6 (with the fourth main expedition of the Salyut station 6" was in space for 185 days). Numerous medical and biological studies carried out during the flight of orbital stations showed that with an increase in the duration of a person’s stay in space, there was generally no progression in the severity of the body’s reactions to flight conditions.

The complexes of preventive agents used ensured the maintenance of good health and performance of the astronauts during such flights, and also helped smooth out reactions and facilitated adaptation to terrestrial conditions in the post-flight period. It is important to note that the medical studies conducted did not reveal any changes in the astronauts’ bodies that would prevent a systematic increase in flight duration. At the same time, functional changes were discovered in some body systems, which are the subject of further consideration.

GOU Lyceum No. 000

Kalininsky district of St. Petersburg

Research

Medical and biological research in space

Gurshev Oleg

Head: biology teacher

St. Petersburg, 2011

Introduction 2

The beginning of biomedical research in the middle of the 20th century. 3

The impact of space flight on the human body. 6

Exobiology. 10

Prospects for the development of research. 14

List of sources used. 17

Appendix (presentation, experiments) 18

Introduction

Space biology and medicine- a complex science that studies the characteristics of human life and other organisms in space flight conditions. The main task of research in the field of space biology and medicine is the development of means and methods of life support, preserving the health and performance of crew members of spacecraft and stations during flights of varying duration and degree of complexity. Space biology and medicine are inextricably linked with cosmonautics, astronomy, astrophysics, geophysics, biology, aviation medicine and many other sciences.

The relevance of the topic is quite great in our modern and fast-paced 21st century.

The topic “Medical and Biological Research” interested me last year two, since I decided on my choice of profession, so I decided to do a research paper on this topic.

2011 is an anniversary year - 50 years since the first human flight into space.

Start of biomedical research in the middleXXcentury

The following milestones are considered the starting points in the development of space biology and medicine: 1949 - for the first time it became possible to conduct biological research during rocket flights; 1957 - for the first time, a living creature (the dog Laika) was sent into a near-Earth orbital flight on the second artificial Earth satellite; 1961 - the first manned flight into space was completed. In order to scientifically substantiate the possibility of a medically safe human flight into space, the tolerability of impacts characteristic of the launch, orbital flight, descent and landing on Earth of spacecraft (SV) was studied, and the operation of biotelemetric equipment and life support systems for astronauts was tested. The main attention was paid to studying the effects of weightlessness and cosmic radiation on the body.

Laika (cosmonaut dog) 1957

R the results obtained during biological experiments on rockets, the second artificial satellite (1957), rotating spacecraft-satellites (1960-1961), combined with data from ground-based clinical, physiological, psychological, hygienic and other studies, actually opened the way man into space. In addition, biological experiments in space at the stage of preparation for the first human space flight made it possible to identify a number of functional changes that occur in the body under the influence of flight factors, which was the basis for planning subsequent experiments on animals and plant organisms in flights of manned spacecraft, orbital stations and biosatellites. The world's first biological satellite with an experimental animal - the dog "Laika". Launched into orbit on November 3, 1957. And stayed there for 5 months. The satellite existed in orbit until April 14, 1958. The satellite had two radio transmitters, a telemetry system, a software device, scientific instruments for studying the radiation of the Sun and cosmic rays, regeneration and thermal control systems to maintain conditions in the cabin necessary for the existence of the animal. The first scientific information was obtained about the state of a living organism under space flight conditions.

Achievements in the field of space biology and medicine largely predetermined successes in the development of manned astronautics. Along with flying , carried out on April 12, 1961, it is worth noting such epoch-making events in the history of astronautics, such as the landing of astronauts on July 21, 1969 Armstrong(N. Armstrong) and Aldrina(E. Aldrin) to the surface of the Moon and many months (up to a year) flights of crews at the Salyut and Mir orbital stations. This was made possible thanks to the development theoretical foundations space biology and medicine, methodology for conducting medical and biological research in space flights, justification and implementation of methods for selection and pre-flight training of astronauts, as well as the development of life support equipment, medical control, preservation of the health and performance of crew members in flight.

Team Apollo 11 (from left to right): Neil. A. Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins, Commander Edwin (Buzz) E. Aldrin.

Impact of space flight on the human body

During space flight, the human body is affected by a complex of factors related to flight dynamics (acceleration, vibration, noise, weightlessness), staying in a sealed room of limited volume (altered gas environment, hypokinesia, neuro-emotional stress, etc.), as well as factors of outer space as a habitat (cosmic radiation, ultraviolet radiation, etc.).

At the beginning and end of space flight, the body is influenced by linear accelerations . Their values, gradient of increase, time and direction of action during the period of launch and insertion of the spacecraft into low-Earth orbit depend on the characteristics of the rocket and space complex, and during the period of return to Earth - on ballistic characteristics flight and type of spacecraft. Performing maneuvers in orbit is also accompanied by the impact of accelerations on the body, but their magnitudes during flights of modern spacecraft are insignificant.

Launch of the Soyuz TMA-18 spacecraft to the International space station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome

Basic information about the effect of accelerations on the human body and methods of protection against their adverse effects was obtained through research in the field of aviation medicine; space biology and medicine only supplemented this information. It was found that staying in conditions of weightlessness, especially for a long time, leads to a decrease in the body's resistance to the effects of acceleration. In this regard, a few days before the descent from orbit, the astronauts switch to a special physical training regime, and immediately before the descent they receive water-salt supplements to increase the degree of hydration of the body and the volume of circulating blood. Special chairs have been developed - supports and anti-g suits, which ensures increased tolerance to acceleration when astronauts return to Earth.

Among all the factors of space flight, the constant and practically irreproducible in laboratory conditions is weightlessness. Its influence on the body is diverse. Both nonspecific adaptive reactions characteristic of chronic stress and various specific changes due to disruption of interaction occur sensory systems body, redistribution of blood to the upper half of the body, reduction of dynamic and almost complete removal of static loads on the musculoskeletal system.

ISS summer 2008

Examinations of cosmonauts and numerous experiments on animals during the flights of the Cosmos biosatellites made it possible to establish that the leading role in the occurrence of specific reactions combined into the symptom complex of the space form of motion sickness (sickness) belongs to the vestibular apparatus. This is due to an increase in the excitability of otolith and semicircular canal receptors under weightless conditions and a disruption in the interaction of the vestibular analyzer and other sensory systems of the body. Under conditions of weightlessness, humans and animals show signs of detraining of the cardiovascular system, an increase in blood volume in the vessels of the chest, congestion in the liver and kidneys, changes in cerebral circulation, and a decrease in plasma volume. Due to the fact that in conditions of weightlessness the secretion of antidiuretic hormone, aldosterone and the functional state of the kidneys change, hypohydration of the body develops. At the same time, the content of extracellular fluid decreases and the excretion of calcium, phosphorus, nitrogen, sodium, potassium and magnesium salts from the body increases. Changes in the musculoskeletal system occur predominantly in those departments that, under normal conditions of life on Earth, bear the greatest static load, i.e., the muscles of the back and lower extremities, in the bones of the lower extremities and vertebrae. There is a decrease in their functionality, a slowdown in the rate of periosteal bone formation, osteoporosis of the spongy substance, decalcification and other changes that lead to a decrease in the mechanical strength of bones.

During the initial period of adaptation to weightlessness (takes on average about 7 days), approximately every second cosmonaut experiences dizziness, nausea, incoordination of movements, impaired perception of the body’s position in space, a feeling of a rush of blood to the head, difficulty in nasal breathing, and loss of appetite. In some cases, this leads to a decrease in overall performance, which makes it difficult to perform professional duties. Already at the initial stage of flight, initial signs of changes in the muscles and bones of the limbs appear.

As the duration of stay in conditions of weightlessness increases, many unpleasant sensations disappear or are smoothed out. At the same time, in almost all astronauts, if proper measures are not taken, changes in the state of the cardiovascular system, metabolism, muscle and bone tissue progress. To prevent unfavorable changes, a wide range of preventive measures and means: a vacuum tank, a bicycle ergometer, a treadmill, training-load suits, an electric muscle stimulator, training expanders, salt supplements, etc. This makes it possible to maintain good health and a high level of performance of crew members on long-term space flights.

An inevitable accompanying factor of any space flight is hypokinesia - a limitation of motor activity, which, despite intense physical training during the flight, leads to general detraining and asthenia of the body in conditions of weightlessness. Numerous studies have shown that prolonged hypokinesia, created by staying in bed with the head tilted (-6°), has almost the same effect on the human body as prolonged weightlessness. This method of modeling in laboratory conditions some of the physiological effects of weightlessness was widely used in the USSR and the USA. The maximum duration of such a model experiment, conducted at the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems of the USSR Ministry of Health, was one year.

A specific problem is the study of the effects of cosmic radiation on the body. Dosimetric and radiobiological experiments made it possible to create and put into practice a system for ensuring radiation safety of space flights, which includes means of dosimetric control and local protection, radioprotective drugs (radioprotectors).

Orbital station "MIR"

The tasks of space biology and medicine include the study of biological principles and methods for creating artificial habitats on spacecraft and stations. To do this, they select living organisms that are promising for inclusion as links in a closed ecological system, study the productivity and sustainability of populations of these organisms, and simulate experimental unified systems living and nonliving components - biogeocenoses, determine their functional characteristics and possibilities of practical use in space flights.

Such a direction of space biology and medicine as exobiology, which studies the presence, distribution, characteristics and evolution of living matter in the Universe, is also successfully developing. Based on ground-based model experiments and studies in space, data have been obtained indicating the theoretical possibility of the existence of organic matter outside the biosphere. A program is also being carried out to search for extraterrestrial civilizations by recording and analyzing radio signals coming from space.

"Soyuz TMA-6"

Exobiology

One of the areas of space biology; searches for living matter and organic substances in space and on other planets. The main goal of exobiology is to obtain direct or indirect evidence of the existence of life in space. The basis for this is the discovery of precursors of complex organic molecules (hydrocyanic acid, formaldehyde, etc.), which were discovered in outer space by spectroscopic methods (in total, up to 20 organic compounds were found). Exobiology methods are different and are designed not only to detect alien manifestations of life, but also to obtain some characteristics of possible extraterrestrial organisms. To assume the existence of life in extraterrestrial conditions, for example, on other planets of the solar system, it is important to determine the survival ability of organisms when experimentally reproducing these conditions. Many microorganisms can exist at temperatures close to absolute zero and high (up to 80-95 ° C); their spores can withstand deep vacuum and prolonged drying. They tolerate much higher doses of ionizing radiation than in outer space. Extraterrestrial organisms would probably be more adaptable to living in environments containing little water. Anaerobic conditions do not serve as an obstacle to the development of life, so it is theoretically possible to assume the existence in space of microorganisms with a wide variety of properties that could adapt to unusual conditions by developing various protective devices. Experiments carried out in the USSR and the USA did not provide evidence of the existence of life on Mars, there is no life on Venus and Mercury, and it is unlikely on the giant planets, as well as their satellites. In the solar system, life is probably only on Earth. According to some ideas, life outside the Earth is possible only on a water-carbon basis, characteristic of our planet. Another point of view does not exclude the silicon-ammonia base, but humanity does not yet have methods for detecting extraterrestrial life forms.

"Viking"

Viking program

Viking program- NASA's space program to study Mars, in particular, for the presence of life on this planet. The program included the launch of two identical spacecraft, Viking 1 and Viking 2, which were supposed to conduct research in orbit and on the surface of Mars. The Viking program was the culmination of a series of missions to explore Mars, which began in 1964 with Mariner 4, continued with Mariner 6 and Mariner 7 in 1969, and with the Mariner 9 orbital missions in 1971 and 1972 The Vikings took their place in the history of Mars exploration as the first American spacecraft to land safely on the surface. It was one of the most informative and successful missions to the red planet, although it failed to detect life on Mars.

Both devices were launched in 1975 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Before the flight, the landers were carefully sterilized to prevent contamination of Mars by terrestrial life forms. The flight time took a little less than a year and arrived at Mars in 1976. The duration of the Viking missions was planned at 90 days after landing, but each device operated significantly longer than this period. The Viking-1 orbiter operated until August 7, 1980, the descent vehicle until November 11, 1982. The Viking-2 orbiter operated until July 25, 1978, and the descent vehicle until April 11, 1980.

Snowy desert on Mars. Photo of Viking 2

BION program

BION program includes comprehensive research on animals and plant organisms in flights of specialized satellites (biosatellites) in the interests of space biology, medicine and biotechnology. From 1973 to 1996, 11 biosatellites were launched into space.

Leading scientific institution: State Scientific Center of the Russian Federation - Institute of Medical and Biological Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow)
Design department: GNP RKTs "TSSKB-Progress" (Samara)
Flight duration: from 5 to 22.5 days.
Launch location: Plesetsk cosmodrome
Landing area: Kazakhstan
Participating countries: USSR, Russia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Germany, Canada, China, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, USA, France, Czechoslovakia

Studies on rats and monkeys on biosatellite flights have shown that exposure to weightlessness leads to significant but reversible functional, structural and metabolic changes in the muscles, bones, myocardium and neurosensory system of mammals. The phenomenology is described and the mechanism of development of these changes is studied.

For the first time, in the flights of the BION biosatellites, the idea of ​​​​creating artificial gravity (AG) was put into practice. In experiments on rats, it was established that IST, created by rotating animals in a centrifuge, prevents the development of unfavorable changes in muscles, bones and myocardium.

Within the framework of the Federal Space Program of Russia for the period 2006-2015. in the section “Space Facilities for Fundamental Space Research”, the continuation of the BION program is planned; launches of the BION-M spacecraft are scheduled for 2010, 2013 and 2016.

"BION"

Prospects for research development

The current stage of exploration and exploration of outer space is characterized by a gradual transition from long orbital flights to interplanetary flights, the nearest of which is seen as expedition to Mars. In this case, the situation changes radically. It changes not only objectively, which is associated with a significant increase in the duration of stay in space, landing on another planet and returning to Earth, but also, which is very important, subjectively, since, having left the already familiar earth’s orbit, the cosmonauts will remain (in a very small number of a group of their colleagues) “lonely” in the vast expanses of the Universe.

At the same time, fundamentally new problems arise associated with a sharp increase in the intensity of cosmic radiation, the need to use renewable sources of oxygen, water and food, and most importantly, the solution of psychological and medical problems.

Mercury" href="/text/category/mercury/" rel="bookmark">Mercury -Redstone 3" with Alan Shepard.

The difficulty of controlling such a system in a limited hermetically sealed volume is so great that one cannot hope for its rapid implementation into practice. In all likelihood, the transition to a biological life support system will occur gradually as its individual links become ready. At the first stage of development of BSZhO, obviously, the physico-chemical method of producing oxygen and utilizing carbon dioxide will be replaced by a biological one. As is known, the main “suppliers” of oxygen are higher plants and photosynthetic single-celled organisms. A more difficult task is replenishing water and food supplies.

Drinking water is obviously still very for a long time will be of “terrestrial origin”, and the technical one (used for household needs) is already being replenished through the regeneration of atmospheric moisture condensate (AMC), urine and other sources.

Of course, the main component of the future closed ecological system is plants. Research on higher plants and photosynthetic single-celled organisms on board spacecraft have shown that under space flight conditions, plants go through all stages of development, from seed germination to the formation of primary organs, flowering, fertilization and maturation of a new generation of seeds. Thus, the fundamental possibility of carrying out the full cycle of plant development (from seed to seed) in microgravity conditions was experimentally proven. The results of space experiments were so encouraging that they allowed us to conclude already in the early 80s that the development of biological life support systems and the creation on this basis of an ecologically closed system in a limited hermetic volume is not such a difficult task. However, over time, it became obvious that the problem cannot be solved completely, at least until the main parameters that make it possible to balance the mass and energy flows of this system are determined (by calculation or experiment).

To replenish food supplies, animals must also be introduced into the system. Of course, at the first stages these should be “small-sized” representatives of the animal world - mollusks, fish, birds, and later, possibly rabbits and other mammals.

Thus, during interplanetary flights, astronauts need not only to learn how to grow plants, keep animals and cultivate microorganisms, but also to develop a reliable way to control the “space ark”. And to do this, we first need to find out how an individual organism grows and develops under space flight conditions, and then what demands each individual element of a closed ecological system makes on the community.

My main task in research work was to find out how interesting and exciting let them pass space research and what a long way they still have to go!

If you just imagine the diversity of all living things on our planet, then what can you assume about space...

The universe is so big and unknown that this type of research is vital for us living on planet Earth. But we are only at the very beginning of the journey and we have so much to learn and see!

Throughout the time I was doing this work, I learned so many interesting things that I never suspected, I learned about wonderful researchers like Carl Sagan, I learned about the most interesting space programs carried out in the 20th century, both in the USA and in the USSR, I learned a lot about modern programs like BION, and much more.

Research continues...

List of sources used

Great Children's Encyclopedia Universe: Popular Science Edition. - Russian Encyclopedic Partnership, 1999. Website http://spacembi. *****/ Big Encyclopedia Universe. - M.: Publishing house "Astrel", 1999.

4. Encyclopedia Universe (“ROSMEN”)

5. Wikipedia website (pictures)

6.Space at the turn of the millennium. Documents and materials. M., International relationships(2000)

Application.

“Mars transfer”

"Mars transfer" Development of one of the links of the future biological-technical life support system for astronauts.

Target: Obtaining new data on the processes of gas-liquid supply in root-inhabited environments under space flight conditions

Tasks: Experimental determination of capillary diffusion coefficients of moisture and gases

Expected results: Creation of an installation with a root-living environment for growing plants in relation to microgravity conditions

· Set "Experimental Cuvette" for determining the characteristics of moisture transfer (speed of movement of the impregnation front and moisture content in individual zones)

LIV video complex for video recording of the movement of the impregnation front

Target: The use of new computer technologies to improve the comfort of an astronaut’s stay during a long space flight.

Tasks: Activation of specific areas of the brain responsible for the astronaut’s visual associations associated with his native places and family on Earth with a further increase in his performance. Analysis of the astronaut's condition in orbit by testing using special techniques.

Scientific equipment used:

Block EGE2 (individual hard drive of an astronaut with an album of photographs and a questionnaire)

"VEST" Obtaining data for the development of measures to prevent the adverse effects of flight conditions on the health and performance of the ISS crew.

Target: Evaluation of a new integrated clothing system from various types materials for use in space flight conditions.

Tasks:

wearing "VEST" clothing, specially designed for the flight of the Italian cosmonaut R. Vittori on the ISS RS; receiving feedback from the astronaut regarding psychological and physiological well-being, that is, comfort (convenience), wearability of clothes; her aesthetics; the effectiveness of heat resistance and physical hygiene on board the station.

Expected results: Confirmation of the functionality of the new integrated clothing system "VEST", including its ergonomic indicators in space flight conditions, which will reduce the weight and volume of clothing planned for use in long-term space flights to the ISS.

One way or another, life on our planet owes its emergence to a combination of cosmic and planetary conditions, and now, as a result of long evolution and in the person of its representative, man, it itself goes directly into the Universe. This, apparently, is the pattern of development of life, which no longer relates to the past, but to the future. Space, planet and space again - this is the universal cycle of life demonstrated by humanity today. Life born on Earth, going beyond the planet, thereby reveals its cosmic aspiration. This is the “evolutionary” significance of the cosmic age we are experiencing.

Earth microorganisms can be found at altitudes of up to 100 kilometers. This milestone marks the limit of the natural expansion of earthly life towards outer space. However, with the help of rocket and space technology, that is, “artificially,” man not only goes into space himself, but also takes animals and plants with him. First (and this is already happening) the impact of space flight conditions on representatives of earthly life is studied, and in the future there will be a new living space to be developed and inhabited.

The goals of biological experiments in space are multifaceted; they serve to solve such practical problems of astronautics, such as determining the degree of danger of orbital flight for a living being (including, of course, man himself), determining and creating the possibility of including plants in the life support system, using them in space flights in as carbon dioxide sinks, oxygen suppliers and food products. In addition, space bioexperiments are of fundamental scientific importance. For example, they help to clarify the influence of radiation and weightlessness on one of the mysterious mechanisms of living things - genetic code, to “record” hereditary characteristics transmitted from parents to children, from one living organism to another.

Of course, studies of the behavior of organisms in a prolonged state of weightlessness are also important for practice and for science. Under terrestrial conditions, such a state can only be imitated (for example, training cosmonauts in spacesuits in aquatic environment) or partially create it for just a few minutes (training in a steeply descending, “falling” plane). Scientists believe that, having known the reaction of living things to weightlessness, it is possible to experimentally identify the role of gravity in the origin and formation of life on Earth, that is, to solve the most important scientific and ideological problem - to test the very cosmological hypothesis about gravity as a determinant of the main stages of the development of life, about which we talked.

Biological experiments in space are a delicate and very specific matter. Let's start with the fact that such experiments are often carried out without the direct participation of researchers, on automatic satellites. For this purpose, complex and at the same time extremely light and compact equipment is used - this is an indispensable requirement for launching a payload into orbit. For higher animals, for example, automatic systems are created that supply oxygen for breathing, food and drink, and remove waste products. The first living creature to leave the planet was the dog Laika, launched in 1957 on the second Soviet satellite a month after the launch of the famous first Sputnik. The dogs were launched afterwards, returning alive and healthy. And in 1983 and 1985, monkeys flew into space and also returned safely to Earth.

Astronauts do not yet take higher animals with them on manned flights. Space experiments on living material are complex and very difficult. In a ship, with its weightlessness, you cannot lay out instruments, experimental animals or even plants on the table, you cannot place jars with nutritious, germination and fixing solutions. Before you have time to look back, it will all end up in the air and scatter throughout the compartment. And this is not only a disruption to the experience, but also a threat to the entire flight program, and perhaps to the health of the crew members. Tiny drops of liquid suspended in the air can enter a person’s respiratory tract and disrupt the operation of complex equipment. And not all substances here can be kept in open vessels. Those that are even slightly harmful to humans (and biologists often have to deal with such substances) require strict sealing. To this we must add that the work of astronauts, even on long, months-long flights, is scheduled literally minute by minute; In addition to biological ones, they carry out many other programs. Hence, there is another indispensable requirement for all experiments: maximum simplicity of operations.

We will tell you how scientists unravel this tangle of contradictions between the objectives of the research and the severely restrictive conditions of its conduct, and how they conduct interesting experiments, using the example of experiments with the fruit fly - Drosophila.

These insects, veterans of cosmobiological research, launched in biosatellites, in manned spacecraft, and traveled to the Moon and back on automatic Zond devices. Keeping flies in space does not cause much trouble. They do not need special units with a life support system. They feel quite well in an ordinary test tube, with a little nutrient broth poured into the bottom.

At the Salyut stations, experiments with Drosophila were carried out in special thermostats at a constant, strictly controlled temperature. The biocontainer, intended for experiments on developing larvae and pupae, consists of four plastic tubes inserted into the nests of a rectangular foam stand. The test tubes are placed in a thermostat, which automatically maintains a temperature of +25 degrees. This device, flown on Soyuz and Salyut, is light and compact and does not require any special actions or observations during flight. At the end of the experiment, when one generation of flies has been raised, the biocontainer is removed from the thermostat and sent in the next transport ship to Earth.

However, it is much more interesting to obtain several generations of fruit flies in zero gravity: the result would be real “ethereal creatures,” to use Tsiolkovsky’s terminology, which not only develop, but are also born in space. And it’s not a matter of terminology, but of experimental confirmation of one of the boldest hypotheses of the Kaluga scientist.

Another device has been created for experiments of this kind. It is a plastic cube with a side about 10 centimeters long, assembled from sections with a nutrient medium and doors between them. During the Flight, the astronauts remove this cube from the thermostat at the right time and allow the insects in the first section access to the second. Flies lay eggs on the new “living space”, giving life to the next generation. From such testicles purely cosmic larvae emerge. They, in turn, turn into pupae, then into flies, which are transferred to the next compartment of the device and there hatch the next cosmic offspring.

This is exactly what happened in reality. Living creatures, even if only fruit flies for now, are capable of living and reproducing outside the Earth. This important and promising conclusion, made on the basis of a space experiment, proves that life and space are not contraindicated to each other.

6 430

Humanity originated in Africa. But not all of us remained there; for more than a thousand years, our ancestors spread throughout the continent and then left it. When they reached the sea, they built boats and sailed vast distances to islands they may not have known existed. Why?

Probably for the same reason why we and the stars say: “What is happening there? Could we get there? Perhaps we could fly there.”

Space, of course, is more hostile to human life than the surface of the sea; escaping Earth's gravity involves a lot more work and expense than taking a boat offshore. But then boats were the cutting-edge technology of their time. Travelers carefully planned their dangerous journeys, and many died trying to discover what was beyond the horizon.

The conquest of space in order to find a new habitat is a grandiose, dangerous, and perhaps impossible project. But that has never stopped people from trying.

1. Takeoff