Pink

So, I'm pink. Upon checking in, each subject is assigned a color, and all your tools and articles will be marked accordingly. I'm pink this time, though what's weird is that I cannot remember what color I was last year. After being here for 64 days, you'd think I could recall!


On the bright side, I remembered everyone's names -- though there are many new faces among all the levels of staff ... and I am easily recalling the more important processes and procedures, such as: Lights out at 10pm. Astronaut (i.e. musical) wake-up call at 6am. Vital signs and temperature taken upon waking and before sleeping. Rooms must be kept between 70-73 degrees fahrenheit. Twice per day, someone sticks a stethoscope on my back and chest, to check breath sounds and heartbeat. Occasionally, others feel for pulses in the wrists and feet.

So far, the only testing is daily urinalysis, which is continually examined in a refractometer for Specific Gravity, after which small amounts are frozen and picked up by NASA for archiving.

They weigh me in kilograms every morning, and for some silly reason I still trouble myself over the mental math, converting to pounds. Daily weight is then used to determine water-pitcher assignments for the day and caloric requirements... carefuly calculated to keep us at a percisely stable weight. Three square meals a day, and you must eat and drink everything on the tray.

All in all, this second visit has been easier in many ways, because much of the "mystery" is gone. I no longer have tons of questions swirling around in my mind, and the environment no longer feels foreign. I know where the towels are, I know where to get an extra blanket, I know that when a nurse asks, "Can I get you anything?" ... "chocolate mousse" or "a martini" are the wrong answers.

A few things have changed. We can no longer leave the ward to roam the hospital for short periods each week, due to all the construction. That's rather a freedom-restricting bummer. As long as we stayed out of direct sunlight before, we could wander around the grounds. Workmen run amok with toolbelts and ladders and whatnot, still repairing all the damage from Hurricane Ike. So, for liability reasons, we can only walk around the 6th floor.

Another recent change was citizen status. The program only used to accept US citizens, but after some suggestions and discussions (and I don't even want to know the level of paperwork, LOL...) they are now allowing non-US citizens to apply, as long as they have green cards. Hmmm, I know some out-of-work hockey players who might now be interested. Hey Chicas, y'think this could help Chelios with that tax bill? ;)

New Science!

I'm back in "my old room" on the ward -- same one I was in before, though now there are two beds in here... I'm in the one nearest the door. The bed nearest the window is a special contraption designed to imitate a moon trip.

I'd hope to get some photographs of it, even though I won't be in it for many more days. I also thought I would write something pretty extensive today to describe the program, but then one of the creative folks around here sent me this great flyer with explanations:


Click to see the PDF file... I'm just assuming everyone has Adobe these days, but do some people not have this as a staple of their systems? Holler at me if you cannot read this, and I'll re-create it on a regular web page.

Since someone else did the writing for me, I ended up transferring photos today, and will upload the sights & smells of Houston next...

Screening Redux

Before returning for the Lunar Study, I had to undergo a modified screening... nowhere near as grueling or thorough as last June, because they consider all records of physicals good for one calendar year. I came in under the deadline, so I didn't have to repeat the full flight physical, psychological tests, etc.

However, certain things like metabolic panels, TB, Hepatitis, HIV -- those must be repeated for every incoming subject, regardless of timeline... (also, us gals have to repeat pregnancy tests). So, last week I headed down to Houston's Johnson Space Center campus to revisit the Human Test Subject Facility (HTSF).

If you apply and are invited to have needles stuck into you at JSC, it feels like you drive all over creation, but you'll mostly be in the HTSF building with The Screening Crew. I was there for about two minutes this time around when Linda (who conducted my eye and ear exams last year) happily said she still enjoyed reading my blog, LOL... So naturally, when you say that, you have to be on it!

Linda, Rori, Me, Chad, David, Kathy & Wanda

Here are the amazing unsung heroes who recruit and test for the medical and space research studies, day in, day out, for the sake of science -- they are a fun and cheery bunch, despite their always-hectic schedules. (I've seen some of the schedules, you really wouldn't even believe just HOW hectic.)

The ladies above are RNs, and the two gents are the official chauffeurs who drive us subjects hither and yon around Houston and Galveston. They are so busy right now with new recruits, they sometimes need airport taxis to pick up the slack, but that's a good thing. Everything is back in full swing again!

Wyle's Activities Coordinator, Michelle, went on ride-alongs with us, so she could see everything the subjects go through. Some of you may remember her from posts last year -- she's the fast-moving lady who helps us shop, send and receive mail from bed, and a million other things you don't even think of until you are "head-down." She also arranges for lectures and comics and movie nights...

Michelle & Me

After screening, we drove to AMC Lifestyle Support, who fits NASA study subjects with leg-compression stockings. More to come on why these are used (I'm still learning about it myself), but for now I'll just mention what I knew on that day: each set is customized for the wearer... they measure us in Houston, then FAX the specifications to a company in Germany called Beiersdorf-Jobst. They'll make my new legwear, and ship to UTMB before I go into the lunar bed.

See the full gallery of pictures from that day at the Screening HSTF Gallery in my Picasa albums .. and yes, I know my legs are white and I need a tan.

Following the measurements, we got to have a nice quiet lunch together, and do some space souvenir shopping. Michelle knows all the good spots ;) Then it was off to Wyle for a briefing about the project, which I'll detail tomorrow... stay tuned!

It's so great to be back!

The Lunar Study

Second study for the NASA - Wyle - UTMB trifecta!

And if there are any new party crashers... UTMB stands for the University of Texas Medical Branch. I flew from Austin to Houston, was driven down to the island... and I am once again in a comfy room-all-to-my-cozy-little-lonesome on the 6th floor, home of the GCRC, or the Galveston Clinical Research Center. (You could suffer death-by-acroynyms around here.)

Wyle Labs Inc. is the subcontractor that screens all program applicants and recruits new volunteers for space program research, and once we check in, happy gangs of scientists at Johnson Space Center (JSC) come and go all Bones McCoy on us.

Speaking of Bones... sadly, the Lunar Study schedule means I will miss the premiere of the new Star Trek film. I'm just sort of killing time today, and tomorrow is my official "Day One" ... then the program goes for 21 days. So, hopefully it will still be in theatres when I am released! My new calendar... clicket to embiggen:


Last year, I signed on for the 115-day program for space flight simulation, which studied effects of micro-gravity on the human body (such as that experienced on the space station or shuttles in transit). This time, I will be simulating the specific gravity of the Moon. (I know most people don't capitalize Earth's satellite... which I never understood. Other sats have proper names, and in my opinion our amazing Moon shouldn't be an exception.)

But I digress.

Compared to the testing rigamarole I went through in 2008, this should be a walk in the park! In theory. I'm trying not to be smug or assume I know everything, because the bed rest portion will be in a special contraption -- very different from last year's head-down tilt. More pictures and descriptions to come day-to-day as I experience the new protocols!