RESEARCHERS from the University of Brighton spent last week suspended in space-like conditions to develop better understanding of zero gravity’s impact on our health.
With space tourism now a realistic prospect, knowledge about zero gravity’s (or known as parabolic flight) impact on the body and equipment is more important than ever.
The two projects tested, GELL-P and DEPLOY!, both have potential to be used for space exploration and on earth.
Student Erin Saltmarsh, who is studying for a MEng Aerospace Engineering, was among the teams on the flights.
Parabolic flights involve a flight pattern whereby the plane goes into freefall producing zero gravity conditions.
During each of three flights researchers went from 1.8 times the force of gravity to weightlessness 30 times per flight as the plane climbed to an altitude of 7,500m before beginning its dive.
Each time the flight went into freefall researchers had around 20 seconds of weightlessness to conduct their experiments.
The GELL-P project team analysed a pioneering lower limb testing kit to learn more about wound healing in space which, in turn, will lead to improved diagnosis.
Led by Rachel Forss from the School of Sport and Health Sciences and the Centre for Regenerative Medicines and Devices, the project is funded by the UK Space Agency and will help future space missions predict the effect of hyper-gravity conditions on lower limbs such as those experienced by astronauts, fighter pilots and racing car drivers as well as in everyday healthcare settings with the assessments for patients.
The team are the first UK podiatrists to conduct experiments in weightless conditions.
Rachel said about the flight: “It was amazing! A bit like swimming underwater but with less resistance and control. A unique experience, zero gravity is quite pleasant, but the 1.8g on either side is what makes it tiring.”
Rachel explained why testing in these conditions was so important: “As space travel and long-range missions are being developed, more knowledge on body system behaviour under these micro-gravity and hyper conditions needs to be gained to maintain the health and healing ability of astronauts and could have implications for others exposed to strong gravitational force, including fighter pilots and racing car drivers.”
She added the research is also important in healthcare: “Narrowing and blocked arteries in the legs and feet become more common with age and when individuals have a number of conditions – which affect about one in five people aged over 60.
“As the current population is ageing and life expectancy increases, chronic wounds are becoming more common and costly to health services worldwide, as well as negatively impacting the quality of life of patients.
“Identifying and referring people with this condition as quickly as possible is essential.”
The DEPLOY! Project team, including University of Brighton student Erin Saltmarsh who is studying for an Aerospace Engineering MEng, were focused on testing an innovative, flexible heat transportation pulsating heat pipe (PHP) which has potential to be used for space vehicles such as satellites.
The device is particularly suitable for space flight because of its lightweight nature and small size as well as its unique ability to be deployed in three different positions and be folded back against the space vehicle, much like the wing mirrors on a car, minimising the risk of damage from space debris.
The project is a collaboration between the University of Brighton, University of Pisa and the University of Parma with funding from the ESA Academy Experiments programme. This programme provides funding and support for university students to develop research in space science and technology, and the UK Space Agency.
Erin joined the team following a lecture about the project by School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering Principal Lecturer and mentor for the first European Low Gravity Research Association mentoring scheme (ELGRA), Dr Nicolas Miché, who then introduced her to team leader Alessandro Billi, an aerospace engineer at the University of Pisa.
Erin said: “The flights were amazing. We couldn’t have hoped for a more successful project and have collected some good data. We are now processing the data from the flights.
“When I started my degree, I never expected to be doing a parabolic flight. I’m excited and nervous, it’s an incredible chance and I’ve learned so much from being part of it.”
Dr Miché, who has been on several zero gravity flights, said that the feeling of weightlessness takes some getting used to: “It’s something that is not comparable to anything else you will experience.
“It is the most extreme feeling you will ever have it’s very peaceful and detached.”
