Pillownaut Muse

After my follow-up DEXA Bone Scan last winter, and the nice article NASA's Human Research Program published about me and other past pillownauts in preparation for the new simulation protocols, I didn't expect much more to happen. It's been many years since my studies, and my blog is now only rarely updated.

I pondered perhaps "over-hauling" this site to be a #SciComm hub -- but honestly, I think there are so many great existing Science Communication sites, and I will work to amplify those. I figured I'd had my 15 minutes of fame, and decided to leave my old blog "as-is" as a historical record of how I lived through the unique experiences of Space Flight Simulations projects at NASA.

But. Every time I think I'll never hear about it again, another author or press outlet comes knocking. Last time it was Charles Wohlforth, and you should definitely still read his great book, "Beyond Earth: Our Path To a New Home in the Planet." My father was very impressed they devoted more space to me than to Neil Armstrong, so we may have to put that on my tombstone.

Along came Minute Number 16...

Muse Magazine asked to feature my studies and chose the same title, just spelled a bit differently! In "Beyawned Earth," writer Jen Mason compiled many of my past blog excerpts, a few older press turns, and many of my personal photographs from quarantine into an exceptional article designed to teach students about space flight and how it affects the "biological packages" that travel in spacecrafts.

Reading the finished product, I was definitely the happiest I've ever been with an interview. I've had TV and radio stations ask me exhaustingly inappropriate questions; sometimes even reputable outlets go for the sensationalist spin by giving the study clever little [incorrect] nicknames or dwelling on incidental details, like how we manage to shower during simulations, or that we cannot have sugar or caffeine or salt in quarantine. Sure, those things are challenging, but not life-threatening. They pale in the quest for good data.

However, MUSE Magazine hired a skilled and serious writer who truly nailed the science. After literally a decade of interviews in varied formats, and even being featured on the NASA website itself, this was really the first full-length article that revolved around MY OWN WORDS REGARDING MY OWN EXPERIENCES. This is the closest article to what I would have written myself. Maybe someday, some outlet will invite me to do so. Hope springs eternal.

I was gratified that this particular entity put the science in detailed and accurate terms, because it's directed at students and young adults potentially getting started in scholastic concentrations, and beginning to think about choosing majors.

Issue came out in March, and I was thrilled to receive copies by May, after I returned from my 6-week trek in Europe. You can order back issues of Muse Magazine yourself, or subscribe your teens, at Cricket Media.

My entire list of articles has been updated to include the last 2 years.

Pillownauts Across The Pond

Vladyslav Atavin is back!  Last year, in his blog, Astronaut of the Pillow, Vlad was kind enough to share his experiences while participating in the European Space Agency Flight Simulations. Their French, Irish, Austrian, German, and Italian scientists came together to conduct tests similar to those I underwent at NASA.

Oh, the things we do for science!

Last December, Vlad wrote about the first phase of their experiments in French.  In April, he completed phase two, and wrote about his medical tests in English. The third phase, set for autumn of 2013, will be recorded in Russian. FlightSim sure is turning into an international endeavour!

There are twelve individuals in their ongoing study: 10 Frenchmen, 1 Spaniard, and 1 Russian.

The entire program is ambitious in size and scope:
Four pillownauts will spend 21 days at a head-down tilt while engaging in recumbent weight-training and a vibrating exercise contraption. Another foursome will engage in the same, but add whey protein to their diets to see if there is any difference in muscle building. A final four will spend the same amount of time in bed, but lacking any of these attempts at "countermeasures."  Throughout the program, they will undergo various tests and experiments.

2011: the year the term PILLOWNAUT crossed the pond

These studies, with Mars in mind as a destination, are designed to find countermeasures to keep astronauts and cosmonauts healthier on long-duration missions. Vlad's detailed journal includes descriptions of program phases, photographs of the study facility, lists of his requirements and protocols, medical tests, and how the subjects spend their leisure time.

Many protocols are identical to those used at NASA: -6 degree tilt, food regimen, calculated fluid intake, blood tests and urinalysis, plasma volume measurements, DEXA bone scans, and neurological balance tests; and also minor details, such as having to shave certain body areas to accommodate electrodes, and having massages to prevent thrombosis.

Poor Vlad had to shave his hand, wrist, and leg for various tests, including multiple biopsies. So dedicated! He still looks great, in spite of it all! Rehab and exercise after FlightSim is no easy matter, but he met all the challenges...

Reading his daily updates brought back so many memories of my own experiences with the many tests: Posturography, Isometric muscle activities and of course, the dreaded Tilt Tests.  We did so many of the same things! (With slight differences in style and equipment.) It's been fun to compare my logs to his in terms of his work in Toulouse, France -- and my work in Galveston, Texas.

Honestly though, he does something a LOT that I never did in any of my Flight Simulation programs: he constantly gets folks to photograph him shirtless. Ladies, enjoy!

If you think you might be interested in participating in such paid studies, they tend to be very lucrative for healthy volunteers -- and now they are going on across three continents!  I used to get many international questions, and always had to break it to people that NASA only takes US citizens. But the Russian and European space agencies will now be conducting analog FlightSims, too.

Keep your eyes peeled for application promotions -- and of course, whenever I hear of a new study that is recruiting, you will see it here on my blog!

GeekChicTees Prize Winner

Wow, this is like being Jayne in the town of Canton on Higgins' Moon! Talk about a mob scene!  It is with great pleasure that I report, unsurprisingly, that the collaborative T-shirt Giveaway between Pillownaut Blog and GeekChicTees was a rousing success... in no small part to Captain Mal's Wisdom, which has become just about the funnest place on Facebook for Firefly fans!

TWEETSTORM! Over a thousand entries poured in through Twitter!  Then a few hundred more through Facebook, Google+, PInterest, Tumblr -- and many asked if they could join for emailing their friends, and/or posting on their blog or LiveJournal. News traveled to thousands.  The most any one person entered was 30! (Seems there are some folks out there who have multiple Twitter accounts.)

Browncoats sure are a creative bunch. In my last few prize giveaways for shirts and calendars, I had about 100 entries per. This Firefly-themed contest really broke the 'verse barrier, with a fair percentage entering multiple times on multiple days.

So, the cat. He likes to roll around in paper. It helps if you sprinkle a little catnip around it. Funny little quirk, he will play in it, then pick something to chew. So, I just watched him until he chomped on a piece and carried it off toward the scratching post. And there's our winner! With toothmak

Lindsey of Kalamazzo, Michigan is the lucky one! Twitter handle @Linzey101182, please contact me to claim your prize!  You have 24 hours to respond, and thank you for your 7 entries!  Please send Direct Message back to me on Twitter, or email me (hra2362 at yahoo dot com), and let me know your address and shirt size.  If no response by Friday at 8am, we will randomly choose another name.

And if you didn't win, well, we're sorry we can't give a freebie to everyone!  But this went so well, I am sure we will have another giveaway ... perhaps for Christmas?  In the meantime, all the shirts are available on GeekChic. This has been a wonderful way to find new Browncoat friends all across social media, and get the #Firefly hashtag front and center for all to see.

CAN'T STOP THE SIGNAL!

Win Free Firefly T-Shirt!

Browncoats! Know what the Alliance hates? Dedicated freedom fighters, creativity and probably most of all -- free stuff. This past September 20, 2012 was the 10-year anniversary of the premiere of Firefly. And even a decade later, I still live to wave the Serenity Valley flag.

If you belong to the largest social media site in the world, you're surely seen the great GEEKCHIC TEES Firefly products on Captain Mal's Wisdom or Facebook Firefly.

Now, Mr. GeekChic Tees himself offers a gift to one lucky Browncoat!  The contest will run for one week, today through next Wednesday (May 1st - 7th).

At the end, we let the cat pick a name at random (for real), and the winner, upon sending clothing size and address confidentially, gets to pick their favorite product from the GeekChic Tees catalogue!

"I Wish This Was Nathan Fillion" ... that one slays me. I'd wear it because I love it, but I don't hate any of my friends enough to wear it right next to them.  I think a great viral-photography project would be to wear these next to unsuspecting strangers. Or, perhaps go to Disneyland and just wear it next to Mickey Mouse.

The ultimate? Wearing it right next to Nathan Fillion himself. That may even open a black hole of irony in the multiverse. Let's try it.

To enter the contest for the free T-shirt, simply tweet one of the following, so Mr. GeekChic and I can see it in our feeds:

Browncoats! Win FREE Firefly TShirt from @geekchic_tees at @Pillownaut blog http://bit.ly/ncU0U SHINY #YouCantTakeTheSkyFromMe #FIREFLY

#Firefly Win a Free FIREFLY shirt http://tinyurl.com/cueymyf from @geekchic_tees at @Pillownaut blog. Browncoats Unite! #Shiny #Serenity

Win FREE Firefly TShirt at @Pillownaut blog http://bit.ly/ncU0U @geekchic_tees Spread the word, Browncoats! #CantStopTheSignal #FIREFLY

#FIREFLY Win a Free Firefly shirt http://tinyurl.com/cueymyf from @geekchic_tees! Browncoats Unite! #Shiny #BigDamnHeroes cc @pillownaut

Or, make up one of your own tweets, but be sure to include, AT MINIMUM: the link to the contest, both Twitter handles, the hashtag #FIREFLY and any other Browncoat saying or quote... but please, not too much gorram cussing in Chinese!

If you are not on Twitter, share this page to Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, and/or Google+ and then email Pillownaut to say you have done so: h r a 2 3 6 2 - at - yahoo dot com.

Enter as many times as you like, on as many platforms as you like. Every share and tweet counts as an entry!  It also counts as an entry if you follow either of us on Twitter for shiny space and Firefly clothing updates in the future.

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: May 7, 2013. 

 

NASA's Dr. Duane Graveline

I'd like to extend a vast and hearty thank you to everyone who tuned into The Space Show this past Friday, when the esteemed Dr. Livingston invited me to co-host a broadcast where we interviewed the equally-esteemed former NASA astronaut, Dr. Duane Graveline.

NASA Group #4: "The Scientists" (Duane in top center)

And what a treat! We jumped right in with questions about his first interest in bedrest as an Air Force intern at the famed Walter Reed Army Hospital, where he first seized upon going beyond regular medical corps duties to become a flight surgeon in the mid-1950s, when concerns about "zero-gravity" on future space travelers had just begun.

The good doctor remembered clearly how he selected 10 young men in 1957, and arranged for them to have nothing to do for two weeks but lay in bed at Randolph Air Force Base Hospital. Sounds easy, right? The Air Force guys initially thought that was the world on a platter!  Dr. G conducted baseline tests, including tilt table tests & stress tests, and took measurements of muscle function and blood volume. Amazingly, as I know from my own experiences, these are still staples of all weightlessness simulation programs, 56 years later! They evolved to use different techniques in many cases, but the examination of these measures before and after spaceflight will always be crucial physiological markers.

But then, the troubles began, said Duane with a laugh, and his healthy sense of humor shines through. The subjects wanted to read in bed, they wanted to shave, they wanted to feed themselves... ah, the nerve! LOL!  Turns out, bedrest isn't so simple -- allowances do need to be made in terms of documentting the de-conditioning of space flight, but still ensuring your testers do not grow bored or stir crazy.  What's a space scientist to do?

Astronaut Hall of Fame, Florida

Determined to find something better, Graveline began water immersion experiments in the AeroMed Lab at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, or as he termed it, a "heaven" for any research-oriented person.  His demands were simple: 9x9x8 rooms full of water with viewing ports, with water maintained at a constant 95 degree temperature. Not too much to ask, right?  He designed a suit for use in the tank and then -- as a former test volunteer, I love this part -- he underwent a solid week of water immersion himself!

If you tune into the Space Show recoding in the archives for no other reason, listen for his experiences in the tank -- how he survived on liquids, and the testing protocols used.  An explosion of interest followed, landing him on the "Today" show, and led to his being given whole series of tests where he worked with both mice and humans in different micro-gravity simulations.

The most detailed of the sims involved specially designed pressure helmets and more complex underwater garments.  And unlike bedrest where immobility is crucial, so as not to bias the data with any influence of gravity, the aquanauts were freer to read books, play games and enjoy their unique environment while Dr. Graveline conducted electrocardiograms or recorded brain waves.

LIFE Magazine Centerfold, 1959

See that dude in the picture above? Imagine floating that way for 7 days straight! That's Dr. G to the right, looking into the custom water tank. It would many years before NASA had their own similar facilities, but both water immersion and bedrest techniques would continue to be developed over the coming decades, yielding valuable data about counter-measures in space... and also vital information as to how astronauts are best rehabilitated physically when they finally return to Earth's gravity. As a result, we are able to keep our space workers living in space for longer periods of time -- but without the potential lifelong risks that many suffered in the days of the Mir space station.

I think my favorite part was where LIFE Magazine called BioAstronautics a "bizarre new science".  Well, I guess now it's a bizarre middle-aged science.

To listen to the archived broadcast, please see Dr. David Livingston's web site for THE SPACE SHOW.

The Space Show

TOMORROW! 9:30am Pacific Time! I hope you'll join the spacetweep fun over at the The Space Show with Dr. Livingston, where I'll be co-hosting a show at the invitation of Dr. Livingston! After our discussion a couple weeks back about the NASA space flight simulations program at Johnson Space Center (JSC), he took the initiative to find the initiator of the research projects, Dr. Duane Graveline!  In the morning, we will be interviewing him together about his lifetime of space-related research, and his experiences with the Soviet BioAstronautics program.

Friends, this is "THE" talk show about all things space. But why am I telling you this? If you're a reader of mine, you already know all about it and are probably a regular listener, since I've promoted many of his guests on Pillow Astronaut over the years, such as my blogger bud A4H Brian Shiro, Lunar luminary Dr. Paul Spudis, Apollo 9's Rusty Schweickart,  and Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Radio stations generally limit their questions to a 5 to 15 minute spot for science topics, but this will be well over an hour, and of course, I always welcome a chance to speak about my passion for NASA research.  It is a great honor to be able to speak with such an amazing radio and media guru, who brings so many truly important space science subjects to public attention.  Together, I know we have lots of great questions for Dr. Graveline, one of the "scientist astronauts" of NASA's early days in Group 4 (1965).

In fact, in preparing to write this post prior to the show, I was trying to thinkg of a space-related subject he has NOT discussed, and I can't. From research to rockets, asteroids to aerospace companies, government policies to exoplanets, SOFIA to CubeSat,NASA to DARPA, Kepler to Kennedy, he has covered it all, and gotten everyone's opinion about it!

Falcons and Dragons and Dream Chasers, he leaves no stone un-turned about the new developments in commercial space initiatives as well; so, definitely check out his website and explore his many esteemed guests.

His motto? "Space is the path to a better future for all people on Earth."

If you haven't found these resources already, you can also follow updates and details about shows and guests on The Space Show Twitter Feed, and Dr. Livingston's personal page.

Space Show Live!

What a treat! I'll admit, I was a bit anxious at being "live" for a 90-minute radio show where anyone could call in an ask questions, but I had nothing to fear.

It was such a pleasure to be on The Space Show with Dr. David Livingston, and he kindly flattered me about being a "unique" guest, despite my lacking quite the impressive credentials of astronauts or commercial space CEOS! But I just enjoyed the good company and tried to do the best I could.

In bed for science!

Such a walk down memory lane! The show brought back so many memories. I participated in three NASA Spaceflight Simulations in 2008, 2009 and 2010; since then, I have tried to promote the programs as accurately as possible, making available my own medical materials and testing experiences. Sometimes it was both fun and funny, other times gritty and painful -- but at all times an amazing experience with NASA scientists who work hard to develop counter-measures to micro-gravity side-effects, so that astronauts can stay healthier in space.

The show certainly didn't seem like 90 minutes. When I first heard about the length, I didn't think I'd have anything to talk about for that long.  But, being naturally over-opinionated, and concentrating on people's questions by phone or email, I felt the time slip away quickly.

Learning to walk again after being in bed for science!

Although a fair bit of time has passed since my studies, and new studies are being continually developed, many details came back to me easily when someone asked about a particular protocol, screening criteria, the NASA ward environment, or possible medical applications of the research.

Dr. Livingston is also a gracious host, and allowed me to speak freely, when the average CNN anchor would have cut me off.  Of course, with the well-educated, science-oriented audience of The Space Show, we were all largely "preaching to the choir" about hoping to reach Mars, the future of rocket propulsion possibilities, and usefulness of space technologies here on Earth.  These are all things we love to talk about amongst ourselves endlessly!  Someday, they will hopefully be realities.

If you'd like to listen to the show, please see The Space Show archives, where my interview and Q&A session is listed on January 8th.  Dr. Livingston has already invited me back for another show in February, hopefully to speak jointly with the NASA astronaut who started the simulations in the late 1950s, so stay tuned for news about that! Should be fun!

The 10 Most Bizarre Space Experiments

My first appearance in a textbook! After numerous turns on the internet, radio and television, I'm truly proud that I've been able to contribute to an educational resource for children. Hopefully it will serve to initiate a fascination with space research for some young minds.

Rubicon Publishing has recently released "The 10 Most Bizarre Space Experiments", a fun and fascinating look into various space projects around the world... and off the world!

TheCanadian company who writes "The 10" series of books contacted me with a request for personal photographs insights into my personal experience with bedrest studies. These programs are used to simulate spaceflight so scientists and doctors can study changes in human bodies in prolonged weightlessness.

It was refreshing to talk about the details of the studies again, since of course it's been quite awhile now since I did extended quarantine with spaceflight protocols. Happily, however, these studies are still going strong, and many new studies are also developed each year for new participants.  Johnson Space Center is still seeking healthy paid volunteers for studies like the one I shared here with Rubicon, and new programs involving the newest space station treadmill.

Ah, memories... but, I was not the star of the tiny tome by any means. A complete list of all the featured stories include:

1. LEGO on ISS
2. Six-legged Astronauts
3. Newts in Space
4. Cola Wars
5. Mars500
6. The Bedrest Experiment
7. Balloon Jump From Space
8. Moon Bricks
9. Space Underwear
10. Telepathy From Space

One of my favorite simulations, performed as a joint project by the European and Russian space agencies, is the Mars500. I followed all three of their missions for years! My feature ends on page 5, and the Mars500 feature begins on page 6! What an absolute honor to be in the same pages of a book with them. Of course, perhaps they would also consider it an honor to be included with a book of long-term space experiments and yeeeeeeears of comparable NASA studies.

I sure wish I could give a link to where the book can be purchased that would work for everyone! However, the target audience is Canadian educators, so it won't be made widely available.  However, if anyone has connections to any of the experiments and would like a look at the particular pages, please let me know!

Astronaut in the NASA Ward

Dr. Serena M. Auñón (35) of League City, TX was one of the two flight doctors chosen in the last astronaut selection. The Galveston Daily News reported on her visit to the NASA ward at the University of Texas Medical Branch, where she visited with study subjects in the current flight simulation programs.

Participants David Sarmiento and William Widener were in the long-term bed-rest study in the Flight Analog Research Unit at the time, in the now-famed Head-Down Tilt. In this position, participants show physiologic changes similar to those expressed by astronauts in microgravity. Changes in blood pressure and blood plasma volume result when the heart works about 15-20% less, and of course the creation of bone mineral density in the body also changes.

Sarmiento, 35, a commercial diver from Maryland &
Widener, 42, a fitness instructor from North Carolina

Like many subjects before them, the newest recruits attest to a new appreciation of how astronauts cope with weightlessness on their missions, as they find the studies are both physically and mentally demanding. Said one new participant: "I have a greater understanding of the physical effects of zero gravity. It's not just floating. It affects your whole body."

Astronaut Auñón, who completed residencies in both internal medicine and aerospace medicine at UTMB, so she knows a little something about the value of the NASA studies:
"We learn a tremendous amount from astronauts and their experiences aboard the Space Station. Those numbers are small and a larger body of evidence is needed. Head-down bed rest is one of our best analogues. The women and men who volunteer to take part as subjects in the bed rest facility provide invaluable data regarding physiological changes in a 'weightless' environment."

It's also an amazing way to do your part for space exploration, and everything scientists learn about human bodies in these studies gets us closer to planet Mars. Still, it must have been nice to get some personal recognition from an astronaut! They of all people know how much sacrifice can be involved in the stringent protocols. Testing yourself in the way astronauts train? Not for sissies!


Other articles in the past few months regarding the studies have been very positive! We are truly seeing gratifying results in term of how space studies further our knowledge of how to live in micro-gravity, but also the practical benefits that can be applied to life on Earth:

July 13, 2011: Sentara Offers NASA-Developed Treadmill For Therapy
Space study treadmill used for orthopedic patients, senior rehabilitation conditioning, military members endurance and strengthening, etc.

November 29, 2011: Bed Rest Study Provides Invaluable Data for NASA
Information on exercise, muscles, bones and hearts to keep astronauts healthier.

December 21, 2011: From Here To Maternity
Months in bed to stop miscarriage? Practical considerations to involuntary bedrest.

January 2012: Rehab: Space Technology Helping to Heal & Strengthen
Space mission technology adapted and approved by the FDA for use in injury rehabilitation, Neuro-Muscular control, pre- and post- joint replacement surgery conditioning and athletic training.

These have also all been added to the archive of Articles on Pillownaut.com.

Spacehack

Spacehack! It's more efficient (and less criminally motivated) than it actually sounds. Spacehack is a directory of ways to participate in space exploration, interact with the space community, and also serves to encourage what creator and ex-NASA-employee Ariel Waldman calls "citizen science."

The Flight Analogs Project (FAP) investigations were recently updated at the top of the page in the "Data Analysis" category, so hopefully more people will find and apply for the new space flight simulations! Exciting new programs have begun to test out new garments and equipment that will be used on the ISS.


Other listed projects include:

• "Launch Your Own Personal Satellite" from a TubeSat kit
• Image a site on the red planet from the orbiting Mars Odyssey
  
• Build robotic Lunar Excavation or Mars rover models
• Track solar explosions and solar storms
  
• Classify space images at Galaxy Zoo
• Lend your engineering ideas for the Space Elevator

Some are competitions for prizes, others pay actual wages; some are for students and/or entire classrooms as projects, others for amateur and professional astronomers... and still others are simply ways to gather information to contribute to scientific research.


For instance, a timely project for the present moment is the "Planet Hunters", where you can help discover new exoplanets (extrasolar planets orbiting other stars) by exploring telescope data from NASA's Kepler mission. This online experiment taps into the power of pattern recognition. How cool would it be to find a new habitable planet??

If you know of a space-related activity where Citizen Scientists can contribute, you can also submit a project to Spacehack. And feel free to tell me if you join one, as I'd love to hear what folks are contributing!

Camilla Corona on TV!

Oh, good grief, did I really forget to include my news spot? Almost all the Space Tweeps were in the press in their hometowns over the past couple of weeks, and many people are busy as little bees, compiling lists of all the press items!

I should have shown this last week when we were on the way to the launch, but we were on the road when it aired and did not get to see the news on the home station, FOX 26 Houston. They also ran a print version in their "Offbeat News" section, hilariously titled: Rubber Chicken to 'Tweet' Shuttle Launch!

FOX NEWS: Epic Road Trip to Atlantis Launch

It's all about us driving "Sea to Shining Sea" to attend the launch... and I am so glad the launch went as scheduled, because it makes all the comments in the clip accurate. We all lived in fear of a scrub last week!

It's also stunning now to realize that a week has passed since Atlantis left Earth, though many of us are still glued to NASA TV, watching docking, EVA, and other events. There is an odd sense of sadness and deflation, of everything on the way home now being a bit anti-climactic, even while following the mission... because the big, roaring fiery part is over!

But we really want to thank Ned Hibberd of FOX 26, and all the other reporters who helped BUILD THE BUZZ, for this grand finale of the Space Shuttle program. It has been truly amazing to see space in the headlines every day!

NASA Archives: One of the many bridges
full of space fans watching STS-135 lift off!

AWESOME CROWD! But now, the long drive home. I blazed through Florida and Alabama on Tuesday, not making as many stops this time, just trying to get some miles behind me. Yesterday, I stopped at the John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, the second largest NASA site after Kennedy. Still getting pictures together for that, and will share soon.

Continued on through Louisiana, and into Texas, to meet some folks in various parts of Houston, and will continue west -- trying not to have seizures as the gasoline prices steadily rise! California prices are going to seem even worse now! But, we shall roll with them...

Who knew lying down was such hard work?

While I'm never enamored of how news can tend to trivialize the research experience and all it entails in terms of space flight simulation, I almost always get over it long enough to enjoy any press for the NASA medical studies! The most recent film broke new ground!

For all the new readers who joined me in 2010-11, I started this whole social media bit by accident after doing two bedrest studies myself, one in head-down tilt micro-gravity, and one in up-tilt lunar gravity. I documented my experiences of playing fake Astro-NOT, while scientists tested their various contraptions, or examined my bones and muscles for changes.


Now, however, a new component has been added to the current studies. Participants in iRATS and other upcoming campaigns get to use the eZLS or enhanced Zero-Gravity Locomotion Simulator, a wall-mounted treadmill that simulates space exercise. Of course, astronauts exercise for many hours per day while in space, but it's still a challenge to maintain bone density and muscle tone in weightlessness. Gadgets such as these on Earth help fine tune new possibilities for the space station.

This television broadcast on the ABC nightly news featured the head project scientist Ronita Cromwell, whom I've interviewed before about these amazing studies; our old friend and physical trainer Brent; some ISS footage of exercise machines versus those used on Earth –- all in all, a great range of what the projects are all about.

WFAA Dallas Channel 8 Story by David Schecter
Featuring Gary Conway (Seattle) and Michael Asaf (Houston)

But... "Mad Science treadmill"?? Well, I've heard worse descriptions. Realism is more beneficial to folks who hope to apply for a chance to be part of these programs, designed to result in, as they said, "Healthier astronauts through rigorous scientific research." Well said.

But was it truly a "mentally and physically grueling" study? Not really. I took those same horizontal showers for two months myself, and they were not that difficult. Humans are highly adaptable creatures; you deal with it, you practice, you become adept, and it becomes routine. Every day isn't a rainbow, but neither is every task so grinding that you cannot function happily; like most things in life, the truth is somewhere in between.


I've seen people make remarks about side effects that aren't true either; when the article accompanying this film was released online, someone commented that "you wouldn't even be able to walk afterward." Not so. Walking was stiff and achy for awhile, but healing is a rather swift affair. With regular exercise, I was back up to running daily miles in less than a month!

If you asked either of these chaps after their study stints... they'd very likely say the same. In fact, Gary and Michael, feel free to weigh in around August or so to back me up, LOL!

Space Times News

A few weeks back, a delightful chap named John Wilpers of the Scripps Newspapers company contacted me about having some of my writing featured on a new website by and for space enthusiasts. As their Global Blog Coordinator, seems he was tasked with reading space blogs, all space blogs and nothing but space blogs, to find content. Nice work if you can get it!

John and Scripps just took the Space Times News website live, along with many other folks they fondly call "partners" -- and I know we all feel very lucky to be part of this great new launch pad of space data!

The Space Times News

I was assured my blog was chosen for its"intriguing topics", the overall "conversational, humorous tone", and they appreciated how I "never presume that readers know stuff, so even beginners can enjoy the blog, but so can real space fans"! ...Flattery will get you everywhere.

I have such fun with my writing, and I am drawn to others who share the same passion. The researchers and writers for STN didn't just choose materials at random, either. They sent me a list of what amounted to editorial reviews of my past posts, proving they had truly done their homework. They were not merely scanning, they were studying -- in order to build a truly comprehensive site about all things space!

STN front page, featuring my post about the Trek Con!

Other daily and weekly features include an eye on launch weather, amazing photo galleries, news of the ISS & Space shuttles, top stories across the entire space industry, popularly emailed stories, voting polls and mission news. It's a great place to check in each day and see the headlines and major happenings.

So check out the Space Times News and register for an account to make comments!

Smart Planet

If you aren’t reading SmartPlanet.com yet, you should be. It’s one of the few sites about science and technology that is exactly what it claims to be – intellectual and topical, also incredibly diverse. If you enjoy Bad Astronomy and Wired, things like that, definitely add SP to you bookmarks -- because it's better.

Plus, I’m a bit biased toward any site that features NASA on its front page so often… and who listed me in their "Smart People" section! (Not that I didn’t find it equally humorous when FOX put me in their Weird News listings.)

Christina Hernandez, one of the writers for their "Pure Genius" blog, called me for a Q&A style interview, which was a nice twist! Of course, this format can make me sound like a clunky talker, since speech patterns don’t always come across eloquently in print – but it also cuts down on the possibility of being mis-quoted and allows for greater sharing of detail.


Above many other articles, I like how this one turned out... because I loved talking to Christina! And not just because she looks almost exactly like my real-life younger sister, LOL… although I did find that amusing. She was well-prepared and truly fascinated by the NASA projects, and moreover had an impressive array of intelligent pieces under her award-winning belt.

This interview also marks the first time anyone ever asked me any sort of political or financial question. I find it a bit gloomy that such ideas have recently come to the forefront of everyone’s attention, as opposed to the fascinating science inherent in the study projects, but I suppose it was inevitable.


I do truly believe that no matter what happens in the current budget climate, steps forward won’t stop – nor will the knowledge gained be any less significant based upon the timing in which it is utilized or implemented. My personal opinion means precious little in the big picture, but I was grateful for a chance to express it. So let’s keep spreading the word!

Best Job Ever

A new bit of press from the International CSM, to wrap up 2009! And not a moment too soon. Everyone seems anxious to reach 2010, hoping for a break in the recession routine. However, or those of us lucky enough to land the "best job ever" in the Flight Analog Program, this was a nice end-of-year wrap.

CSM Writer Laurent Belsie submitted what I think is one of the best articles ever written about the Simulation programs, and gave us many "firsts" (not an easy feat now, given how many organizations have covered the NASA project, either with NASA's knowledge and cooperation or independently) -- first time it hasn't incorrectly been dubbed a "sleep" study by an international outlet, first time I think I was correctly quoted (!) with no attempt to appear controversial... and definitely the first time it's been in the "Money" section of a publication, indicating a choice for employment.

Most other times, we'll show up in a Science, Tech or Space section... or much to our amusement, in FOX Houston's "WEIRD NEWS" section.

Can You Spot The Upside-Down Monkey?

This feature had information on three different test subjects -- Debra Robison in 2007, me in 2008 and Scott Saslow in 2009. Covering all the bases! Laurent was a great interviewer as well, prepared with sensible, analytical questions about the space science, and he managed to be both informative and accurate about the program protocols in an upbeat way.

I think he gave a very balanced view of the pros and cons of the overall experience of the study. While it's an amazing way to participate in the space program and there are many fun perqs, it does have its distinct challenges.

With my apologies to Scott, however... I liked the refried beans just fine. It was that chicken-mushroom dish I dreaded, after about the 10th rotation!

Looking forward to seeing all new subjects for the new programs in the new year! I hear rumblings from the island that some new variations in the simulations are about to begin... mostly 30-day and 60-day campaigns, now that the 90-day studies have been brought to a close. Perhaps new Lunar Gravity and Vertical Treadmill studies? We'll soon see...

Resume?

Some funny comments from one of the many forums discussing the NASA bedrest studies at present...


Hmm. Job title. Y'think? ;)