The role of biology in space exploration short report. Space biology

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Research work Significance of biology in space research Completed by: Suzdaltseva Maria Pupil MAOU "Gymnasium named after N.V. Pushkov" Supervisor: Biology teacher Omelchenko Yu.E.

Rationale for those we: To understand the role of biology in space exploration, we must turn to space biology. Purpose of the work: to study the influence of a complex of unusual environmental factors on a living organism. Objectives: 1. To study the peculiarity of space biology. 2. Using the example of living organisms, determine the significance of laboratory and flight experiments. 3. Establish the degree of humanity of the experiments. 4. Establish the importance of space biology. Hypothesis: Is it possible to explore new space routes and organize space tourism with the help of space biology?

Introduction. Space biology is a complex of predominantly biological sciences that study: 1) the features of the life of terrestrial organisms in outer space and during flights on spacecraft 2) the principles of building biological systems to support the life of crew members of spaceships and stations 3) extraterrestrial life forms.

Space biology is a synthetic science that has brought together the achievements of various branches of biology, aviation medicine, astronomy, geophysics, radio electronics, and many other sciences, and has created its own research methods on their basis. Work in space biology is being carried out on various types of living organisms, from viruses to mammals.

Main part. The primary task of space biology is to study the influence of space flight factors (acceleration, vibration, weightlessness, altered gaseous medium, limited mobility and complete isolation in closed sealed volumes, etc.) and outer space (vacuum, radiation, reduced magnetic field strength, etc.) ...

Main part. Research in space biology is carried out in laboratory experiments, to one degree or another reproducing the influence of individual factors of space flight and outer space. However, the most essential are flight biological experiments, during which it is possible to study the effect of a complex of unusual environmental factors on a living organism.

Guinea pigs, mice, dogs, higher plants and algae (chlorella), various microorganisms, plant seeds, isolated human and rabbit tissue cultures and other biological objects were sent on flight on artificial earth satellites and spacecraft.

In the areas of entry into orbit, animals showed an acceleration of the increase in pulse and respiration, which gradually disappeared after the spacecraft transitioned to orbital flight.

The normalization of the pulse after the action of accelerations in zero gravity occurs much more slowly than after tests in a centrifuge under the conditions of the Earth.

Analysis of the dogs' motor activity showed a fairly rapid adaptation to unusual weightlessness conditions and the restoration of the ability to coordinate movements. The same results were obtained in experiments on monkeys. Studies of conditioned reflexes in rats and guinea pigs after their return from space flight have shown no changes in comparison with pre-flight experiments.

Genetic studies carried out in orbiting space flights have shown that being in outer space has a stimulating effect on dry onion and nigella seeds.

Conclusions: 1. In the course of my work, I found out that research in space biology made it possible to develop a number of protective measures and prepared the possibility of a safe flight into human space, which was carried out by flights of Soviet and then American ships with people on board. 2. I made sure that research in this area will continue to be especially needed for biological reconnaissance of new space routes. This will require the development of new methods of biotelemetry (a method for remote research of biological phenomena and measurement of biological indicators), the creation of implantable devices for small telemetry (a set of technologies that allows remote measurements and collection of information to be provided to the operator or user), the conversion of various types of energy arising in the body into necessary for powering such devices, electrical energy, new methods of "compression" of information, etc. 3. I study, and will continue to study the scientific literature on this problem; I'm going to continue working on this topic. Because I am convinced that space biology will play an important role in the development of bicomplexes necessary for long-term flights.

References: Literature 1. Aerospace and Environmental Medicine. - 2000. - T. 34, N 2. 2. Kopaladze R.A. // Regulation of animal experiments - ethics, legislation, alternatives: Review / Ed. ON. Gorbunova. - M., 1998.3. Lukyanov A.S., Lukyanova L.L., Chernavskaya H.M., Gilyazov S.F. Bioethics. Alternatives to animal experiments. - M., 1996.4. T.N. Pavlova Bioethics in high school. - M., 1997.5. Techniques for working with experimental animals: Methodical recommendations. - M., 1989.6. Sanitary rules for the design, equipment and maintenance of experimental biological clinics (vivariums). - M., 1973.7. Fosse P. // Lab. animals. - 1991. - T. 1, No. 1. - S. 39-45. eight . Howard-Jones H. // Chronicle of the WHO. - 1985. - T. 39. - S. 3-8. nine . Schweitzer A. Decline and revival of culture. - M., 1993.10. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. - Washington: National Academy Press, 1996.11. Regan T. The Case for Animal Rights. - London; N.-Y., 1984.

SPACE BIOLOGY, a science that studies the influence of the factors of space flight and outer space on the life processes of terrestrial organisms, searching for extraterrestrial life forms. Space flight factors include acceleration during take-off and return to Earth, vibration during take-off, living conditions inside the spacecraft, isolation from the outside world, weightlessness, distance from the Earth in the case of flights to the Moon and planets; to the factors of outer space - ionizing radiation from the Earth's radiation belts, corpuscular radiation from the Sun, galactic cosmic radiation, reduced magnetic field strength in case of flights outside the Earth's magnetosphere, hard UV radiation, vacuum, sudden temperature changes, meteorite hazard. Research in the field of space biology is carried out on Earth by simulating various factors and conditions, but the most essential are experiments in space flight. In addition to scientists from the USSR (later Russia) and the United States, who made the most significant contribution to the development of space biology, scientists from France, Italy, the Federal Republic of Germany and some other countries also participate in biological research in outer space.

The prerequisites for the emergence of space biology were the studies of the biological effect of radiation in high-altitude flights of balloons conducted in the 1930s, as well as studies of the biological effect of dynamic factors (acceleration, vibration, short-term weightlessness) and space radiation in rockets at altitude, begun in 1949 in our country. from 100 to 450 km. In experiments on dogs, monkeys, rabbits, mice and guinea pigs in rocket flights, it was shown that the dynamic factors characteristic of any space flight are quite tolerable by the body and do not lead to any significant changes in its functional state, no damaging effects of radiation have been revealed ...

The birth of space biology can be considered 1957, when the first living creature, the dog Laika, was sent into orbital flight on the second artificial earth satellite (AES). The analysis of telemetric information showed that life in space is possible, and this served as a powerful incentive for the accelerated creation of the Vostok spacecraft intended for manned space flight. In the period preceding the flight of Yu. A. Gagarin, experiments were carried out on various organisms, tissue and cell cultures in four short-term orbital flights of Soviet satellite spacecraft (modified Vostok spacecraft) returned to Earth. These studies did not reveal the damaging effects and remote biological consequences of short-term space flights, thereby opening the way for man into space.

In subsequent years, biological experiments were carried out in flights of both manned and unmanned spacecraft. So, in 1966 an experiment was carried out with a long (22 days) stay of two dogs in flight of the satellite "Cosmos-110". In 1968-1969 the Soviet automatic spacecraft of the Zond series, on which the turtles were, flew around the Moon. A set of experiments with various biological objects (seeds, plants, frog roe, microorganisms, etc.) was carried out on the Soviet satellite Kosmos-368 (1970), the Soyuz spacecraft and on the world's first orbital station Salyut (1971); West German experiment with medicinal leeches - on high-altitude rockets of the USA and France; joint Italian-American experiment with frogs - on the OFA satellite (1970). Microbiological studies on the lunar surface were carried out by the crew of the Apollo-16 spacecraft (1972); on the Apollo-17, along with the astronauts, there were mice. To solve the problems of space biology, the creation in the 1970s and 80s of the Soyuz and Mir orbital stations, biomedical laboratories as part of the Space Shuttle spacecraft, the Russian spacecraft for scientific and technological experiments: the Bion biosatellite and spacecraft "Foton". Although no significant irreversible changes in organisms were noted under conditions of orbital space flight, at the same time, being in zero gravity in a number of cases was accompanied by significant changes in the muscular, bone, cardiovascular and vestibular systems. These results testified, on the one hand, that, apparently, there are no biological restrictions on the path of further human penetration into space, on the other hand, the need to develop and use in manned space flights means to prevent the adverse effect of weightlessness on human organism. Proceeding from this, space biology should be considered as the scientific foundation of space medicine, the main task of which is medical, biological and sanitary and hygienic support of space flights of crews.

Space biology is inherently an integrative science that uses the achievements of other areas of biology to study the phenomenon of life, the conditions for its origin and spread in the Universe. In this regard, it closely interacts with biophysics, radiobiology, astrobiology and other sciences. Although it has not yet been possible to detect signs of life either on the Moon, or on Mars, or in outer space, the search for direct or indirect evidence of its existence (or the existence of its predecessors) continues with the use of automatic interplanetary spacecraft.

A great contribution to the formation and development of space biology was made by domestic scientists - O. G. Gazenko, V. V. Parin, A. I. Grigoriev, V. I. Yazdovsky, among American scientists - J. Henry, A. Grabil, O. Reynolds and G. Klein, who led the teams of scientists and engineers, who were supposed to answer the question about the possibility of life and work in space without prejudice to human health and to ensure the implementation of the planned flight program.

Lit .: Fundamentals of space biology and medicine. M., 1975. T. 2. Book. 2; Space biology and medicine. M., 1994. [T. 2]; Orbital station "Mir". Space biology and medicine. M., 2001. T. 2; Grigoriev A.I., Ilyin E.A. Animals in space. To the 50th anniversary of space biology // Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 2007. T. 77. No. 11.

Slide 1

To understand the role of biology in space exploration, we must turn to space biology. Space biology is a complex of predominantly biological sciences that study: 1) the features of the life of terrestrial organisms in space and during flights on spacecraft 2) the principles of building biological systems to support the life of crew members of spaceships and stations 3) extraterrestrial life forms.

The role of biology in space research

Slide 2

Slide 3

The primary task of space biology is to study the influence of space flight factors (acceleration, vibration, weightlessness, a modified gaseous medium, limited mobility and complete isolation in closed sealed volumes, etc.) and outer space (vacuum, radiation, reduced magnetic field strength, etc.) ... Research in space biology is carried out in laboratory experiments, to one degree or another reproducing the influence of individual factors of space flight and outer space. However, the most important are flight biological experiments, during which it is possible to study the effect of a complex of unusual environmental factors on a living organism.

Slide 4

Slide 5

In the areas of entry into orbit, animals showed an acceleration of the increase in pulse and respiration, which gradually disappeared after the spacecraft transitioned to orbital flight. The most important direct effect of acceleration is changes in pulmonary ventilation and redistribution of blood in the vascular system, including in the small circle, as well as changes in the reflex regulation of blood circulation. The normalization of the pulse after the action of accelerations in zero gravity occurs much more slowly than after tests in a centrifuge under the conditions of the Earth. Both average and absolute values of the pulse rate in zero gravity were lower than in the corresponding modeling experiments on Earth, and were characterized by pronounced fluctuations. The analysis of the motor activity of the dogs showed a fairly rapid adaptation to unusual weightlessness conditions and the restoration of the ability for coordinated movements. The same results were obtained in experiments on monkeys. Studies of conditioned reflexes in rats and guinea pigs after their return from space flight have shown no changes in comparison with pre-flight experiments.

Slide 6

Experiments on the Soviet biosatellite "Kosmos-110" with two dogs on board and on the American biosatellite "Bios-3" with a monkey on board were important for the further development of the ecophysiological direction of research. During the 22-day flight, the dogs were for the first time exposed not only to the influence of inevitably inherent factors, but also to a number of special influences (irritation of the sinus nerve by electric current, compression of the carotid arteries, etc.), with the aim of elucidating the peculiarities of the nervous regulation of blood circulation in conditions of weightlessness. Blood pressure in animals was recorded in a direct way. During the flight of the monkey on the biosatellite "Bios-3", which lasted 8.5 days, serious changes in the cycles of sleep and wakefulness were discovered (fragmentation of states of consciousness, rapid transitions from sleepiness to wakefulness, a noticeable reduction in sleep phases associated with dreams and deep drowsiness) , as well as a violation of the daily rhythm of some physiological processes. The death of the animal that followed shortly after the early termination of the flight was, according to some experts, due to the influence of weightlessness, which led to a redistribution of blood in the body, loss of fluid and disruption of potassium and sodium metabolism.

Slide 7

Genetic studies carried out in orbiting space flights have shown that being in outer space has a stimulating effect on dry onion and nigella seeds. Acceleration of cell division was found on seedlings of peas, corn, and wheat. In the culture of the radiation-resistant race of actinomycetes (bacteria), there were 6 times more surviving spores and developing colonies, while in the radiation-sensitive strain (a pure culture of viruses, bacteria, other microorganisms or a cell culture isolated at a certain time and in a certain place) there was a decrease in the corresponding indicators by 12 times. Post-flight studies and analysis of the information obtained showed that long-term space flight is accompanied in highly organized mammals by the development of detraining of the cardiovascular system, impaired water-salt metabolism, in particular, a significant decrease in the calcium content in bones.

Slide 8

As a result of biological research carried out on high-altitude and ballistic missiles, satellites, KKS and other spacecraft, it has been established that a person can live and work in space flight for a relatively long time. It has been shown that weightlessness reduces the body's tolerance of physical activity and makes it difficult to readaptate to the conditions of normal (terrestrial) gravity. An important result of biological research in space is the establishment of the fact that weightlessness has no mutagenic activity, at least with respect to gene and chromosomal mutations. When preparing and conducting further ecophysiological and ecobiological studies in space flights, the main attention will be paid to the study of the influence of weightlessness on intracellular processes, the biological effects of heavy particles with a large charge, the daily rhythm of physiological and biological processes, and the combined effects of a number of space flight factors.

Slide 9

Research in space biology made it possible to develop a number of protective measures and prepared the possibility of a safe flight into human space, which was carried out by flights of Soviet and then American ships with people on board. The significance of space biology is not limited to this. Research in this area will continue to be especially needed to address a number of issues, in particular, for biological exploration of new space routes. This will require the development of new methods of biotelemetry (a method for remote research of biological phenomena and measurement of biological indicators), the creation of implantable devices for small telemetry (a set of technologies that allows remote measurements and collection of information to be provided to the operator or user), the conversion of various types of energy arising in the body into the electrical energy necessary to power such devices, new methods of information "compression", etc. Space biology will also play an extremely important role in the development of biocomplexes, or closed ecological systems with autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms, necessary for long-term flights.

GOU Lyceum № 000

Kalininsky district of St. Petersburg

Research

Medical and biological research in space

Gurshev Oleg

Supervisor: biology teacher

Saint Petersburg, 2011

Introduction 2

The beginning of biomedical research in the middle of the 20th century. 3

The impact of space flight on the human body. 6

Exobiology. ten

Research prospects. fourteen

List of sources used. 17

Appendix (presentation, experiments) 18

Introduction

Space biology and medicine- a comprehensive science that studies the characteristics of the life of man and other organisms in space flight. The main task of research in the field of space biology and medicine is the development of means and methods of life support, preservation of health and working capacity of crew members of spaceships and stations in flights of various duration and degree of complexity. Space biology and medicine is inextricably linked with astronautics, astronomy, astrophysics, geophysics, biology, aviation medicine and many other sciences.

The relevance of the topic is quite large in our modern and fast-moving XXI century.

The topic "Biomedical research" interested me for the last two years, since I decided on my choice of profession, so I decided to do research work on this topic.

2011 is a jubilee year - 50 years since the first human space flight.

Beginning of Life Sciences in the middleXXcentury

The following milestones are considered to be the starting points in the development of space biology and medicine: 1949 - for the first time there was an opportunity to conduct biological research during rocket flights; 1957 - for the first time a living creature (the dog Laika) was sent on a near-earth orbital flight on the second artificial Earth satellite; 1961 - the first manned space flight, completed. With the aim of scientifically substantiating the possibility of a medically safe human flight into space, the tolerance of the impacts characteristic of the launch, orbital flight, descent and landing of spacecraft (SC) was studied, and the operation of biotelemetric equipment and life support systems for astronauts was tested. The main attention was paid to the study of the influence of weightlessness and cosmic radiation on the organism.

Laika (astronaut dog) 1957

R The results obtained during biological experiments on rockets, the second artificial satellite (1957), rotating satellite spaceships (1960-1961), in combination with data from ground-based clinical, physiological, psychological, hygienic and other studies, actually opened the way man into space. In addition, biological experiments in space at the stage of preparation of the first human space flight made it possible to identify a number of functional changes that occur in the body under the action of flight factors, which was the basis for planning subsequent experiments on animals and plants in flights of manned spacecraft, orbital stations and biosatellites. ... The world's first biological satellite with an experimental animal - the dog Laika. Launched into orbit on 03.11.1957 and stayed there for 5 months. The satellite existed in orbit until April 14, 1958. The satellite had two radio transmitters, a telemetry system, a software device, scientific instruments for studying the radiation of the Sun and cosmic rays, a regeneration and thermal control system to maintain the conditions in the cockpit necessary for the existence of an animal. The first scientific information about the state of a living organism under conditions of space flight has been obtained.

Achievements in the field of space biology and medicine have largely predetermined the success in the development of manned astronautics. Along with the flight on April 12, 1961, it should be noted such epoch-making events in the history of astronautics as the landing of astronauts on July 21, 1969 Armstrong(N. Armstrong) and Aldrin(E. Aldrin) to the lunar surface and many months (up to a year) flights of crews at the Salyut and Mir orbital stations. This became possible thanks to the development of the theoretical foundations of space biology and medicine, the methodology for conducting biomedical research in space flights, the substantiation and implementation of methods for the selection and preflight training of cosmonauts, as well as the development of life support, medical control, preservation of the health and performance of crew members in flight.

Appolo Team 11 (left to right): Neil. A. Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins, Commander Edwin (Buzz) E. Aldrin.

The impact of space flight on the human body

In space flight, the human body is affected by a complex of factors associated with the dynamics of the flight (acceleration, vibration, noise, weightlessness), being in a sealed room of limited volume (altered gas environment, hypokinesia, neuro-emotional stress, etc.), as well as factors of outer space as a habitat (cosmic radiation, ultraviolet radiation, etc.).

At the beginning and end of space flight, the body is affected by linear accelerations . Their magnitudes, gradient of growth, time and direction of action during the launch and insertion of a spacecraft into a near-earth orbit depend on the characteristics of the rocket and space complex, and during the return to Earth - on the ballistic characteristics of the flight and the type of spacecraft. The performance of maneuvers in orbit is also accompanied by the effect of accelerations on the body, however, their values during flights of modern spacecraft are insignificant.

Launch of the Soyuz TMA-18 spacecraft to the International Space Station from the Baikonur cosmodrome

Basic information about the effect of accelerations on the human body and ways to protect against their adverse effects were obtained during research in the field of aviation medicine, space biology and medicine only supplemented this information. It was found that staying in zero gravity, especially for a long time, leads to a decrease in the body's resistance to the action of accelerations. In this regard, a few days before descent from orbit, the cosmonauts switch to a special regime of physical training, and immediately before descent they receive water-salt supplements to increase the degree of hydration of the body and the volume of circulating blood. Special chairs have been developed - lodgements and anti-g-suits, which provide an increase in the tolerance of accelerations when the astronauts return to Earth.

Among all the factors of space flight, weightlessness is constant and practically irreproducible under laboratory conditions. Its influence on the body is manifold. There are both nonspecific adaptive reactions characteristic of chronic stress and various specific changes caused by impaired interaction of the body's sensory systems, redistribution of blood to the upper half of the body, a decrease in dynamic and almost complete removal of static loads on the musculoskeletal system.

ISS summer 2008

Examinations of cosmonauts and numerous experiments on animals in the flights of the Kosmos biosatellites made it possible to establish that the vestibular apparatus plays the leading role in the occurrence of specific reactions combined into the symptom complex of the cosmic form of motion sickness (motion sickness). This is due to an increase in the excitability of the receptors of the otoliths and semicircular canals in weightlessness and a violation of the interaction of the vestibular analyzer and other sensory systems of the body. Under conditions of weightlessness, humans and animals show signs of detraining of the cardiovascular system, an increase in blood volume in the vessels of the chest, congestion in the liver and kidneys, changes in cerebral circulation, and a decrease in plasma volume. Due to the fact that in zero gravity the secretion of antidiuretic hormone, aldosterone and the functional state of the kidneys change, hypohydration of the body develops. At the same time, the content of extracellular fluid decreases and the excretion of calcium, phosphorus, nitrogen, sodium, potassium and magnesium salts from the body increases. Changes in the musculoskeletal system occur mainly in those sections that, under normal conditions of life on Earth, carry the greatest static load, i.e., the muscles of the back and lower extremities, in the bones of the lower extremities and vertebrae. There is a decrease in their functional capabilities, a slowdown in the rate of periosteal bone formation, osteoporosis of the spongy substance, decalcification and other changes that lead to a decrease in the mechanical strength of bones.

In the initial period of adaptation to weightlessness (it takes about 7 days on average), about every second cosmonaut experiences dizziness, nausea, discoordination of movements, impaired perception of body position in space, a feeling of blood flow to the head, difficulty in nasal breathing, and impaired appetite. In some cases, this leads to a decrease in overall performance, which makes it difficult to perform professional duties. Already at the initial stage of flight, there are initial signs of changes in the muscles and bones of the limbs.

As the duration of stay in zero gravity increases, many unpleasant sensations disappear or subside. At the same time, practically all cosmonauts, if proper measures are not taken, progress changes in the state of the cardiovascular system, metabolism, muscle and bone tissue. To prevent unfavorable shifts, a wide range of preventive measures and means are used: a vacuum container, a bicycle ergometer, a treadmill, training-load suits, an electromyostimulator, training expanders, taking salt supplements, etc. This allows you to maintain good health and a high level of performance of crew members in long-term space flights.

An inevitable concomitant factor of any space flight is hypokinesia - a limitation of physical activity, which, despite intense physical training during the flight, leads to general detraining and asthenization of the body under zero gravity conditions. Numerous studies have shown that prolonged hypokinesia created by staying in bed with an inclination of the head end (-6 °) has almost the same effect on the human body as prolonged weightlessness. This method of laboratory simulation of some physiological effects of weightlessness was widely used in the USSR and the USA. The maximum duration of such a model experiment, carried out at the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the USSR Ministry of Health, was one year.

A specific problem is the study of the effect of cosmic radiation on the organism. Dosimetric and radiobiological experiments made it possible to create and introduce into practice a system for ensuring radiation safety of space flights, which includes means of dosimetric control and local protection, radiation protective drugs (radioprotectors).

Orbital station "MIR"

The tasks of space biology and medicine include the study of biological principles and methods for creating an artificial habitat on spaceships and stations. To do this, select living organisms that are promising for their inclusion as links in a closed ecological system, investigate the productivity and stability of populations of these organisms, model experimental unified systems of living and nonliving components - biogeocenoses, determine their functional characteristics and the possibilities of practical use in space flights.

Such a direction of space biology and medicine as exobiology, which studies the presence, distribution, features and evolution of living matter in the Universe, is also successfully developing. Based on ground-based model experiments and research in space, data have been obtained that testify to the theoretical possibility of the existence of organic matter outside the biosphere. A program is also being carried out to search for extraterrestrial civilizations by registering and analyzing radio signals coming from space.

Soyuz TMA-6

Exobiology

One of the areas of space biology; searches for living matter and organic matter in space and on other planets. The main goal of exobiology is to obtain direct or indirect data on the existence of life in space. The basis for this is the finding of precursors of complex organic molecules (hydrocyanic acid, formaldehyde, etc.), which have been detected in outer space by spectroscopic methods (up to 20 organic compounds have been found in total). The methods of exobiology are different and are designed not only to detect alien manifestations of life, but also to obtain some characteristics of possible extraterrestrial organisms. For the assumption of the existence of life in extraterrestrial conditions, for example, on other planets of the solar system, it is important to find out the ability of organisms to survive in the experimental reproduction of these conditions. Many microorganisms can exist at temperatures close to absolute zero and high (up to 80-95 ° C); their spores can withstand a deep vacuum and take a long time to dry. They carry much higher doses of ionizing radiation than in outer space. Extraterrestrial organisms are likely to be more adaptable to life in environments containing little water. Anaerobic conditions do not serve as an obstacle to the development of life, therefore, it is theoretically possible to assume the existence in space of microorganisms of various properties, which could adapt to unusual conditions, developing various protective devices. The experiments carried out in the USSR and the USA did not provide evidence of the existence of life on Mars, there is no life on Venus and Mercury, and it is unlikely on the giant planets, as well as their satellites. In the solar system, life is probably only on Earth. According to some ideas, life outside the Earth is possible only on the water-carbon basis inherent in our planet. Another point of view does not exclude a silicon-ammonia base, however, humanity does not yet possess methods for detecting extraterrestrial life forms.

"Viking"

Viking program

Viking program- NASA's space program for the study of Mars, in particular, for the presence of life on this planet. The program included the launch of two identical spacecraft, Viking-1 and Viking-2, which were to conduct research in orbit and on the surface of Mars. The Viking program was the culmination of a series of missions to explore Mars launched in 1964 by Mariner 4, followed by Mariner 6 and Mariner 7 in 1969, and Mariner 9 orbital missions in 1971 and 1972 The Vikings took their place in the history of Mars exploration as the first American spacecraft to land safely on the surface. It was one of the most informative and successful missions to the red planet, although it failed to detect life on Mars.

Both vehicles were launched in 1975 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Before the flight, the descent vehicles were carefully sterilized to prevent the contamination of Mars by terrestrial life forms. The flight time took a little less than a year and arrived at Mars in 1976. The duration of the Viking missions was planned to be 90 days after landing, but each spacecraft worked much longer than this period. The Viking-1 orbiter operated until August 7, 1980, the descent vehicle until November 11, 1982. The Viking-2 orbiter operated until July 25, 1978, and the descent vehicle until April 11, 1980.

Snowy desert on Mars. Photo "Viking-2"

BION program

BION program includes comprehensive research on animals and plant organisms in the flights of specialized satellites (biosatellites) in the interests of space biology, medicine and biotechnology. From 1973 to 1996, 11 biosatellites were launched into space.

Leading scientific institution: SSC RF - Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow)
Design department: GNP RCC "TsSKB-Progress" (Samara)
Flight duration: from 5 to 22.5 days
Launch location: Plesetsk cosmodrome
Landing area: Kazakhstan
Participating countries: USSR, Russia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Germany, Canada, China, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, USA, France, Czechoslovakia

Studies on rats and monkeys in biosatellite flights have shown that being in zero gravity leads to significant, but reversible, functional, structural and metabolic changes in muscles, bones, myocardium and neurosensory system of mammals. The phenomenology is described and the mechanism of the development of these changes is studied.

For the first time in the flights of biosatellites "BION" the idea of creating an artificial gravity (IST) has been implemented in practice. In experiments on rats, it was found that IST, created by the rotation of animals in a centrifuge, prevents the development of unfavorable changes in muscles, bones and myocardium.

Within the framework of the Federal Space Program of Russia for the period 2006-2015. in the section "Space assets for fundamental space research" the continuation of the "BION" program is planned, the launches of the "BION-M" spacecraft are scheduled for 2010, 2013 and 2016.

"BION"

Research Prospects

The current stage of the exploration and study of outer space is characterized by a gradual transition from long-term orbital flights to interplanetary flights, the closest of which seems to be expedition to mars... In this case, the situation changes radically. It changes not only objectively, which is associated with a significant increase in the duration of their stay in space, landing on another planet and returning to Earth, but also, which is very important, subjectively, since, after leaving the already familiar Earth orbit, the cosmonauts will remain (in a very small space). the size of a group of their colleagues) "lonely" in the vast expanses of the Universe.

At the same time, fundamentally new problems arise associated with a sharp increase in the intensity of space radiation, the need to use renewable sources of oxygen, water and food, and most importantly, the solution of psychological and medical problems.

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The difficulty of controlling such a system in a limited hermetically sealed volume is so great that one cannot hope for its early introduction into practice. In all likelihood, the transition to a biological life support system will occur gradually as its individual links are ready. At the first stage of development of BSZHO, it is obvious that the physicochemical method of obtaining oxygen and utilizing carbon dioxide will be replaced by a biological one. As you know, the main "suppliers" of oxygen are higher plants and photosynthetic unicellular organisms. The more difficult task is to replenish food and water supplies.

Drinking water will obviously have "terrestrial origin" for a very long time, and technical (used for household needs) is already being replenished due to the regeneration of atmospheric moisture condensate (KDA), urine and other sources.

Undoubtedly, the main component of the future closed ecological system is plants. Studies on higher plants and photosynthetic unicellular organisms on board spacecraft have shown that in space flight conditions, plants go through all stages of development, from seed germination to the formation of primary organs, flowering, fertilization and maturation of a new generation of seeds. Thus, the fundamental possibility of carrying out the full cycle of plant development (from seed to seed) under microgravity conditions was experimentally proved. The results of space experiments were so encouraging that already in the early 80s it was possible to conclude that the development of biological life support systems and the creation on this basis of an ecologically closed system in a limited hermetic volume is not such a difficult task. However, over time, it became obvious that the problem could not be finally solved, at least until the main parameters were determined (by calculation or experiment) that would make it possible to balance the mass and energy flows of this system.

To replenish food supplies, animals must also be introduced into the system. Of course, at the first stages it should be "small" representatives of the animal world - mollusks, fish, birds, and later, possibly rabbits and other mammals.

Thus, during interplanetary flights, astronauts must not only learn how to grow plants, keep animals and cultivate microorganisms, but also develop a reliable way to control the "space ark". And for this, first it is necessary to find out how an individual organism grows and develops under conditions of space flight, and then what requirements are presented to the community by each individual element of a closed ecological system.

My main task in research work was to find out how interesting and exciting space exploration may have gone and what a long way they still have to go!

If you just imagine what a variety of all life is on our planet, then what can we assume then about space ...

The universe is so large and unknown that this type of research is vital to us living on planet Earth. But we are only at the very beginning of the path and we have so much to learn and see!

Throughout the time when I was doing this work, I learned so many interesting things that I never suspected, I learned wonderful researchers like Carl Sagan, I learned about the most interesting space programs carried out in the XX century, both in the USA and in the USSR, I learned a lot about modern programs like "BION", and a lot of other things.

Research continues ...

List of sources used

Great Children's Encyclopedia Universe: Popular Science Edition. - Russian Encyclopedic Association, 1999. Site http: // spacembi. ***** / Great Encyclopedia of the Universe. - M.: Publishing house "Astrel", 1999.

4. Encyclopedia Universe ("ROSMEN")

5. Wikipedia website (pictures)

6. Space at the turn of the millennium. Documents and materials. M., International relations (2000)

Application.

"Mars transfer"

"Mars transfer" Testing one of the links of the future biological and technical life support system for cosmonauts.

Target: Obtaining new data on the processes of gas-liquid supply in root-inhabited environments under conditions of space flight

Tasks: Experimental determination of the coefficients of capillary diffusion of moisture and gases

Expected results: Creation of an installation with a root habitat for growing plants as applied to microgravity conditions

· Set "Experimental cuvette" for determining the characteristics of moisture transfer (speed of movement of the impregnation front and moisture content in individual zones)

Video complex LIV for filming the movement of the impregnation front

Target: The use of new computer technologies to improve the comfort of the cosmonaut's stay in the conditions of a long space flight.

Tasks: Activation of specific areas of the brain responsible for the astronaut's visual associations associated with home and family on Earth, with a further increase in his performance. Analysis of the state of an astronaut in orbit by testing using special techniques.

Scientific hardware used:

EGE2 block (individual astronaut hard disk with an album of photos and a questionnaire)

"VEST" Obtaining data for the development of measures to prevent the adverse effects of flight conditions on the health and performance of the ISS crew.

Target: Evaluation of a new integrated garment system of various types of materials for use in space flight conditions.

Tasks:

wearing "VEST" clothing specially designed for the flight of the Italian cosmonaut R. Vittori on the ISS RS; obtaining a response from the cosmonaut in relation to psychological and physiological well-being, that is, comfort (convenience), wear of clothing; her aesthetics; efficiency of heat resistance and physical hygiene on board the station.

Expected results: Confirmation of the functionality of the new integrated clothing system "VEST", including its ergonomic performance in space flight conditions, which will reduce the weight and volume of clothing planned for use in long-term space flights on the ISS.

The role of biology in space exploration short report. Space biology

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