Why We are Not in Space or When Gravity is Our Enemy

Why We Are Not in Space or When Gravity is Our Enemy

November 5th at 2 a.m. SLT and November 6 at 11:30 a.m. SLT  at The Science Circle Auditorium

China just launched the second rocket that will be the start of their new space station.  This has caused a great deal of stir among scientists but also the international military.  In 1961 Russia accomplished  the first manned space flight which ignited the cold war between Russia and the US in the race for space.  This also sparked providing pocketfuls of money for education to foster more scientists and innovative thinking.  The emphasis was on physicists and engineers.

Flying poop, runaway liquids, numb legs, and confused plants have turned the race to space into a biological challenge.  The fight against gravity.  Most life on earth has evolved using gravity as a tool to make most of our biological processes work - our blood, heart, muscles, bones, reproductive system, all rely on gravity to go.

Today's discussion is going to focus on the biolgy and physiology of space travel and what we have to understand in order to live in space longer than the time it takes to change us back into an amoeba. 

Reading:

Books
Packing for Mars http://www.amazon.com/Packing-Mars-Curious-Science-Life/dp/0393068471

Articles:

Heart Rate and Oxygen in Space
http://www.nsbri.org/humanphysspace/focus2/spaceflight-exercise.html
Mechanical Blood Pump
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/informal/features/F_Blood_Pump.html

NASA Biology Plan
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/541222main_10-05-17%20FSB%20Sci%20Plan-Signed_508.pdf

Chinese Space Station
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15112760