Space Physiology

Circadian rhythms are misaligned and sleep is reduced in human spaceflight. Lighting is important for sleep and well-being, but evn though sleep deprivation is a challenge on long duration space flight, the beneficial potential fur light as a moderator is currently under-utilized.

Long term exposure to microgravity environments have been associated with ocular changes and impaired visual acuity commonly referred to as Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS). Research into SANS at Petersen Lab aims to further understand the pathophysiological mechanism behind the effects of weightlessness on the human eye.

Entry into weightlessness causes both an immediate and a sustained cephalic shift of fluid and blood from the legs to the central circulation and in addition, sustained weightlessness with unloading of the weight bearing muscles induces atrophy. In combination, these effects of weightlessness cause a reduction in leg circumference known as “bird-leg syndrome”.

To better understand the development of this syndrome and to improve the current countermeasures, Petersen Lab are testing next-generation wearables on board the International Space Station and on the ground.

Petersen Lab is currently part of two NASA projects designed to shed light on several negative physiological effects of microgravity during prolonged space flight.

Weightlessness can be created by letting an airplane perform a free fall following a parobolic trajectory. We utilize this to investigate blood volume distribution in different vascular beds in relation to gravittional stress.