1 00:00:00,506 --> 00:00:03,391 [ Music ] 2 00:00:03,891 --> 00:00:06,776 [ Dramatic Noise ] 3 00:00:07,276 --> 00:00:10,161 [ Wooshing Noise ] 4 00:00:10,661 --> 00:00:13,546 [ Dripping Noise ] 5 00:00:14,046 --> 00:00:14,886 >> All those in favor, say aye. 6 00:00:14,886 --> 00:00:17,126 The aye's have it! 7 00:00:17,426 --> 00:00:19,366 We're talking healthy vision and the effects 8 00:00:19,366 --> 00:00:20,846 of space flight on human health. 9 00:00:21,136 --> 00:00:23,396 Hi, I'm NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson. 10 00:00:23,556 --> 00:00:24,976 Welcome to Station Life. 11 00:00:25,516 --> 00:00:37,546 [ Space Radio Transmissions ] 12 00:00:38,046 --> 00:00:39,226 Hi. Welcome back. 13 00:00:39,506 --> 00:00:41,496 This month on Station Life, we're going to look 14 00:00:41,496 --> 00:00:44,766 at how the unique environment of space affects the human body. 15 00:00:45,316 --> 00:00:48,166 In recent years, a new trend has been identified. 16 00:00:48,436 --> 00:00:49,646 It seems some astronauts 17 00:00:49,646 --> 00:00:51,966 from the International Space Station have reported vision 18 00:00:51,966 --> 00:00:53,726 degradation during their space flight. 19 00:00:54,366 --> 00:00:56,926 So research has identified a possible link 20 00:00:56,926 --> 00:00:58,176 between vision impairment 21 00:00:58,176 --> 00:01:01,586 and the increased intracranial pressure that's caused 22 00:01:01,586 --> 00:01:04,696 by the shifting of bodily fluids from the lower extremities 23 00:01:04,696 --> 00:01:07,916 to the upper parts of the body in a micro-gravity environment. 24 00:01:07,976 --> 00:01:11,176 This is an area of intense interest onboard the ISS 25 00:01:11,266 --> 00:01:13,876 with implications for future exploration missions. 26 00:01:14,236 --> 00:01:16,966 So watch now NASA scientist, Jennifer Fogarty, 27 00:01:16,966 --> 00:01:18,926 explain this phenomenon. 28 00:01:18,926 --> 00:01:19,296 [ Drip Noise ] 29 00:01:19,296 --> 00:01:20,956 >> One of the things we found over the years, 30 00:01:20,956 --> 00:01:23,256 is that there are changes in the astronaut's eyes. 31 00:01:23,416 --> 00:01:25,506 Initially, in the earlier programs, 32 00:01:25,616 --> 00:01:26,786 all the way through the first part 33 00:01:26,786 --> 00:01:28,836 of International Space Changes, we thought those changes 34 00:01:28,836 --> 00:01:30,816 in people's vision-- how they see things-- 35 00:01:31,236 --> 00:01:33,416 was just temporary and minor. 36 00:01:33,416 --> 00:01:35,906 About halfway through our International Space Station 37 00:01:35,906 --> 00:01:37,206 experience, we noticed that some 38 00:01:37,206 --> 00:01:39,996 of the astronauts' vision changes were a little bit more 39 00:01:39,996 --> 00:01:43,286 severe, in that they had a harder time seeing objects both 40 00:01:43,286 --> 00:01:47,076 near and far, and also the vision didn't go back to normal 41 00:01:47,076 --> 00:01:48,856 as quickly as we expected it to. 42 00:01:49,076 --> 00:01:51,066 So, we started looking a lot more closely 43 00:01:51,066 --> 00:01:51,896 at the back of the eye. 44 00:01:51,896 --> 00:01:53,826 What we noticed that tissue in the back 45 00:01:53,826 --> 00:01:56,116 of the eye became a little bit more swollen, and the shape 46 00:01:56,116 --> 00:01:58,376 of the eye changed, but the big question is why. 47 00:01:58,806 --> 00:02:00,626 Why would someone's eye change shape? 48 00:02:00,726 --> 00:02:02,906 Why would the back of the eye become swollen? 49 00:02:02,906 --> 00:02:06,096 One of the major changes that we've been able to document 50 00:02:06,096 --> 00:02:08,776 and understand is how the blood volume shifts 51 00:02:08,896 --> 00:02:10,596 from your lower body to your upper body 52 00:02:10,596 --> 00:02:11,796 when you go into micro-gravity. 53 00:02:11,796 --> 00:02:14,376 So things happen like your nose gets stuffy, 54 00:02:14,376 --> 00:02:16,396 your eyes feel a little bit of pressure. 55 00:02:16,396 --> 00:02:17,936 It feels like you have a really bad head cold. 56 00:02:17,936 --> 00:02:22,156 Well we think that that change in fluid volume and that shift, 57 00:02:22,156 --> 00:02:24,376 might be behind those changes in the eye. 58 00:02:24,376 --> 00:02:26,316 We also think it could be affecting the brain 59 00:02:26,316 --> 00:02:29,436 and changing what's called intracranial pressure. 60 00:02:29,436 --> 00:02:31,346 Normally, we measure intracranial pressure 61 00:02:31,346 --> 00:02:33,116 through a procedure lumbar puncture. 62 00:02:33,386 --> 00:02:35,436 In space flight, that would be very complicated to do, 63 00:02:35,436 --> 00:02:36,736 and we wouldn't want to necessarily do 64 00:02:36,736 --> 00:02:38,336 that to our astronauts if we didn't have to, 65 00:02:38,336 --> 00:02:41,476 so we look for non-invasive ways of measuring pressure 66 00:02:41,476 --> 00:02:44,326 in your brain through your eyes or your ears, 67 00:02:44,326 --> 00:02:46,286 or how much blood flow is actually going 68 00:02:46,286 --> 00:02:47,906 to your brain using ultrasound. 69 00:02:47,906 --> 00:02:51,366 So, NASA has a lot of work ahead to understand the use 70 00:02:51,366 --> 00:02:52,856 of these non-invasive devices, 71 00:02:52,856 --> 00:02:55,146 both terrestrially and in flight. 72 00:02:55,146 --> 00:03:00,656 Part of our job is to understand how we use these tools before, 73 00:03:00,656 --> 00:03:04,236 during and after a space mission to compare the results. 74 00:03:04,236 --> 00:03:05,786 In the process, we determine kind 75 00:03:05,786 --> 00:03:07,526 of how valid these procedures are, 76 00:03:07,526 --> 00:03:10,216 how mature the technologies are, 77 00:03:10,216 --> 00:03:12,596 and how well we can apply them not only to space flight, 78 00:03:12,596 --> 00:03:14,936 but what would be appropriate for spin back to Earth. 79 00:03:15,516 --> 00:03:20,516 [ Music ] 80 00:03:21,016 --> 00:03:30,506 [ Space Noise ] 81 00:03:31,006 --> 00:03:39,516 [ Music ] 82 00:03:40,016 --> 00:03:45,000 [ Space Noise ] 83 00:03:45,136 --> 00:03:46,356 >> So by now, you've probably heard 84 00:03:46,356 --> 00:03:47,856 about the 1-year mission that's going 85 00:03:47,856 --> 00:03:50,596 on right now on board the ISS. 86 00:03:50,596 --> 00:03:52,736 One of the focal points of this mission is 87 00:03:52,736 --> 00:03:55,106 to better understand how does the body react 88 00:03:55,156 --> 00:03:56,646 to prolonged space flight? 89 00:03:56,936 --> 00:03:59,816 It's imperative that we understand what these effects 90 00:03:59,816 --> 00:04:02,806 are, and develop appropriate counter measures, 91 00:04:02,806 --> 00:04:05,066 especially if we're going to go further into space 92 00:04:05,066 --> 00:04:07,376 on longer missions such as going to Mars. 93 00:04:07,636 --> 00:04:10,946 So, let's learn more about fluid shifts and ocular health on ISS. 94 00:04:11,016 --> 00:04:11,306 [ Drip Noise ] 95 00:04:11,306 --> 00:04:11,596 [ Music ] 96 00:04:11,596 --> 00:04:16,156 >> Did you know the human body is made up of more 97 00:04:16,156 --> 00:04:19,806 than 60 percent water, and with that comes challenges we deal 98 00:04:19,806 --> 00:04:20,916 with in our everyday life. 99 00:04:21,526 --> 00:04:24,686 Hi. I'm Dr. John Charles from NASA's human research program. 100 00:04:25,536 --> 00:04:27,836 During the 1-year International Space Station mission, 101 00:04:27,836 --> 00:04:30,606 NASA will conduct visual impairment studies to learn more 102 00:04:30,606 --> 00:04:32,316 about fluid shifts and vision health. 103 00:04:32,536 --> 00:04:35,466 Here on Earth, some of us experience swelling in our legs 104 00:04:35,466 --> 00:04:38,036 or get dizzy when we stand up to quickly or suffer 105 00:04:38,036 --> 00:04:39,296 from elevated blood pressure. 106 00:04:40,166 --> 00:04:43,316 These common ailments faced on Earth are related to the amount 107 00:04:43,316 --> 00:04:46,456 of fluids in our bodies, and how they are redistributed 108 00:04:46,456 --> 00:04:47,606 when we change posture. 109 00:04:48,746 --> 00:04:50,866 Remember swinging upside down on the monkey bars 110 00:04:50,866 --> 00:04:51,666 when you were a child? 111 00:04:52,106 --> 00:04:54,346 You may have felt a heavy sensation around your eyes. 112 00:04:55,246 --> 00:04:56,606 When astronauts are in space, 113 00:04:56,716 --> 00:04:58,436 they may experience a similar feeling, 114 00:04:58,436 --> 00:05:01,356 as weightlessness causes fluids to shift to the upper body. 115 00:05:02,306 --> 00:05:05,356 With this fluid shift persisting for weeks and months in space, 116 00:05:05,356 --> 00:05:08,496 and not just seconds on the money bars, pressure may build 117 00:05:08,496 --> 00:05:11,056 up around the brain and behind the eye and affect their vision. 118 00:05:11,476 --> 00:05:14,076 In the past, we thought this was a temporary problem, 119 00:05:14,186 --> 00:05:16,816 but now believe it may be a more significant concern. 120 00:05:17,806 --> 00:05:20,796 Two visual impairment studies which use non-invasive tools 121 00:05:20,796 --> 00:05:23,646 like ultrasound devices, high resolution photography, 122 00:05:23,646 --> 00:05:27,036 and blood pressure monitors will assess what happens in the body 123 00:05:27,036 --> 00:05:29,156 when fluid volume shifts before, during, 124 00:05:29,156 --> 00:05:30,956 and after long-duration space flight. 125 00:05:32,036 --> 00:05:34,176 Researchers hope to be able to predict the magnitude 126 00:05:34,176 --> 00:05:37,496 of these shifts and understand the causes of related diseases. 127 00:05:38,766 --> 00:05:41,126 Vision is a critical sense on Earth and in orbit, 128 00:05:41,276 --> 00:05:43,506 and it is imperative we learn more as we prepare 129 00:05:43,506 --> 00:05:46,216 for future missions to asteroids, Mars, and beyond. 130 00:05:47,246 --> 00:05:50,016 Patients on Earth suffer from similar problems may benefit 131 00:05:50,016 --> 00:05:51,966 from NASA's research of this syndrome, 132 00:05:52,626 --> 00:05:53,716 and the increased focus 133 00:05:53,716 --> 00:05:55,506 on non-invasive measurement technique. 134 00:05:56,016 --> 00:05:58,256 To learn more about NASA's human research program, 135 00:05:58,316 --> 00:06:00,456 visit www.NASA.gov. 136 00:06:01,516 --> 00:06:04,781 [ Music ] 137 00:06:05,281 --> 00:06:08,546 [ Typing Noise ] 138 00:06:09,046 --> 00:06:10,516 >> When you're up there for six months, 139 00:06:10,516 --> 00:06:12,706 or in Scott Kelly's case, an entire year, 140 00:06:12,706 --> 00:06:15,806 it's really the working in space part that becomes, kind of, 141 00:06:15,806 --> 00:06:16,936 the thing you love the most. 142 00:06:16,936 --> 00:06:17,926 It's the thing that gets you 143 00:06:17,926 --> 00:06:20,776 through the day is you're working with these professionals 144 00:06:20,776 --> 00:06:23,506 on the ground, and a lot of them have spent their entire lives 145 00:06:23,506 --> 00:06:25,996 working on these science experiments, and here we are 146 00:06:25,996 --> 00:06:27,246 up there, and we get to operate them. 147 00:06:27,246 --> 00:06:30,416 And it's really an honor to get to do that, and in many ways, 148 00:06:30,416 --> 00:06:34,326 those are some of my fondest memories of being in space. 149 00:06:34,326 --> 00:06:36,436 You get to work these experiments 150 00:06:36,536 --> 00:06:38,346 and they're usually watching over your shoulder 151 00:06:38,346 --> 00:06:40,046 from the ground, and there was a lot of times 152 00:06:40,046 --> 00:06:42,226 where I would do something, whether it was fluids, 153 00:06:42,226 --> 00:06:44,316 or with flame research, it really didn't matter-- 154 00:06:44,426 --> 00:06:47,186 the investigator would just say, whoa, whoa, whoa, wait, 155 00:06:47,186 --> 00:06:48,806 do that again, that was incredible 156 00:06:48,926 --> 00:06:50,046 and totally unexpected. 157 00:06:50,336 --> 00:06:53,676 And that was what just made you smile big up there, when hey, 158 00:06:53,676 --> 00:06:55,306 we've been flying in space a long, long time, 159 00:06:55,386 --> 00:06:57,006 but we are still doing research 160 00:06:57,046 --> 00:06:59,586 that has unexpected results every single day 161 00:06:59,586 --> 00:07:01,106 on the Space Station, and I really loved 162 00:07:01,106 --> 00:07:01,886 that about being up there. 163 00:07:02,516 --> 00:07:05,316 [ Music ] 164 00:07:05,816 --> 00:07:08,616 [ Computer Ringing Noise ] 165 00:07:09,116 --> 00:07:11,916 [ Music ] 166 00:07:12,416 --> 00:07:12,846 >> Hi, there. 167 00:07:13,146 --> 00:07:14,486 We have a special guest for you. 168 00:07:14,926 --> 00:07:17,626 We have with us today, someone who is no stranger 169 00:07:17,626 --> 00:07:19,976 to human health and space flight combined. 170 00:07:20,426 --> 00:07:22,736 Let me introduce fellow astronaut, Dr. Mike Barratt. 171 00:07:23,446 --> 00:07:24,016 >> How're you doing today? 172 00:07:24,076 --> 00:07:24,143 >> I'm-- 173 00:07:24,143 --> 00:07:25,496 >> Tracy, it's really good to be here with you. 174 00:07:25,586 --> 00:07:27,016 >> It's great to have you here with us. 175 00:07:27,206 --> 00:07:28,696 Thank you so much, Mike, for joining us-- 176 00:07:28,726 --> 00:07:29,156 >> My pleasure. 177 00:07:29,156 --> 00:07:31,676 >> -- for joining us on Station Life. 178 00:07:31,676 --> 00:07:33,936 So, now, the fluid shifts in the body 179 00:07:34,216 --> 00:07:35,786 in the micro-gravity environment. 180 00:07:35,786 --> 00:07:37,706 You are no stranger to this. 181 00:07:37,856 --> 00:07:41,716 You're familiar with it both professionally and personally. 182 00:07:41,716 --> 00:07:44,166 Can you tell us a little bit about it from both perspectives? 183 00:07:44,446 --> 00:07:45,196 >> Well, like you, Tracy. 184 00:07:45,196 --> 00:07:48,116 I've had the opportunity to experience the fluid shifts, 185 00:07:48,116 --> 00:07:51,216 and so when we fly into space, a lot of things happen to us, 186 00:07:51,216 --> 00:07:53,926 and immediately when the engines cut off, we almost feel 187 00:07:53,926 --> 00:07:55,576 like we're hanging upside down. 188 00:07:55,576 --> 00:07:58,536 That's what I remember, is being three years old and hanging 189 00:07:58,536 --> 00:08:00,716 from the monkey bars and feeling the fluid kind 190 00:08:00,716 --> 00:08:01,756 of rush to your head. 191 00:08:01,976 --> 00:08:02,126 >> Yeah. 192 00:08:02,216 --> 00:08:03,946 >> And you kind of feel full and everything there, 193 00:08:04,336 --> 00:08:06,346 and that's just one of the things that happens to you 194 00:08:06,346 --> 00:08:07,156 when you fly in space. 195 00:08:07,486 --> 00:08:11,046 But it's really an amazing thing, because it's a small part 196 00:08:11,046 --> 00:08:14,156 of a very large change that happens to the human body. 197 00:08:14,596 --> 00:08:17,206 We start adapting to weightlessness, 198 00:08:17,696 --> 00:08:20,356 and so many different things happen, that at the end 199 00:08:20,356 --> 00:08:23,886 of this adaptation, we almost become extra-terrestrials, 200 00:08:23,976 --> 00:08:24,416 if you will. 201 00:08:24,736 --> 00:08:25,786 Our body is different. 202 00:08:25,786 --> 00:08:28,886 It changes shape, the physiology is changes, 203 00:08:28,886 --> 00:08:31,436 our blood flow changes, our heart changes shape, 204 00:08:31,636 --> 00:08:35,016 everything changes, and it makes us better for space flight. 205 00:08:35,016 --> 00:08:37,316 It makes us function better in weightlessness. 206 00:08:37,756 --> 00:08:39,356 But it can leave some problems, 207 00:08:39,356 --> 00:08:41,076 especially when you want to come home. 208 00:08:41,326 --> 00:08:44,966 >> Yeah. So, kind of, give a little bit of an example of what 209 00:08:44,966 --> 00:08:45,686 that problem would be. 210 00:08:45,816 --> 00:08:47,066 >> Well, one of the big things 211 00:08:47,066 --> 00:08:49,936 that we've really recently discovered is a change 212 00:08:49,936 --> 00:08:50,366 in vision. 213 00:08:50,936 --> 00:08:53,396 And, I was actually up there on my first flight 214 00:08:53,396 --> 00:08:56,456 about five years ago or so, and maybe three months 215 00:08:56,456 --> 00:08:59,316 into the flight, I noticed that I needed stronger glasses 216 00:08:59,316 --> 00:09:01,566 to read my check-lists, and I thought, well, 217 00:09:01,566 --> 00:09:04,136 I know that some people have said they needed stronger 218 00:09:04,136 --> 00:09:07,286 magnification before, so let's see if we can find 219 00:09:07,286 --> 00:09:08,196 out something about this. 220 00:09:08,196 --> 00:09:12,396 And myself and my co-worker, Bob Thirsk, who was also up there, 221 00:09:12,666 --> 00:09:15,046 who is also a doctor, by the way, doctors rock in space. 222 00:09:15,146 --> 00:09:16,636 >> Doctors are great in space! 223 00:09:16,756 --> 00:09:17,396 >> Thank you. 224 00:09:17,396 --> 00:09:17,463 [ Laughter ] 225 00:09:17,463 --> 00:09:19,786 But we looked in each other's eyes, 226 00:09:19,786 --> 00:09:21,846 and we thought we saw a little bit of swelling 227 00:09:21,846 --> 00:09:24,896 of the optic nerve, which we thought, oh that's very unusual. 228 00:09:25,576 --> 00:09:28,646 And we talked to our really smart friends on the ground, 229 00:09:28,646 --> 00:09:31,046 and they actually sent us some special hardware 230 00:09:31,046 --> 00:09:34,776 that gave us really good looks at the back of the eye. 231 00:09:34,776 --> 00:09:34,866 >> Oh. 232 00:09:34,866 --> 00:09:35,076 >> And-- 233 00:09:35,076 --> 00:09:36,456 >> First, I've got to ask, how did you-- 234 00:09:36,456 --> 00:09:38,756 how were you looking at each other's optic nerve? 235 00:09:39,036 --> 00:09:40,106 >> Well, that's a good question. 236 00:09:40,106 --> 00:09:42,676 So, on the space station in the medical kits, 237 00:09:42,676 --> 00:09:45,346 we have this little instrument that the doctor may hold 238 00:09:45,346 --> 00:09:48,376 up to your eye some time and just take a real good look 239 00:09:48,376 --> 00:09:49,306 at the back of your eye. 240 00:09:49,306 --> 00:09:50,076 Yeah, that's a good one. 241 00:09:50,076 --> 00:09:50,296 [ Laughter ] 242 00:09:50,296 --> 00:09:53,886 And so, we can see things, actually, 243 00:09:53,886 --> 00:09:55,836 that we would be worried about as a doctor, 244 00:09:55,996 --> 00:09:58,546 but this time it gave us a chance to see things 245 00:09:58,876 --> 00:10:01,016 that are new as scientists, 246 00:10:01,016 --> 00:10:04,246 and so they gave us a much better camera. 247 00:10:04,246 --> 00:10:06,576 Within about six weeks, they launched this thing to us, 248 00:10:06,676 --> 00:10:08,356 and lo and behold, indeed, 249 00:10:08,436 --> 00:10:10,706 we did see some swelling of the optic nerve. 250 00:10:11,226 --> 00:10:13,896 We saw some other changes in the back of the eye in the retina, 251 00:10:14,386 --> 00:10:17,616 and then we also did ultra sound that gave us a good look 252 00:10:17,616 --> 00:10:19,306 at the shape of the eye, and you know, 253 00:10:19,306 --> 00:10:20,866 we saw some subtle changes. 254 00:10:21,576 --> 00:10:23,936 So, we were starting to peel off the layers 255 00:10:23,936 --> 00:10:26,506 of something we had known about for a long time, 256 00:10:26,506 --> 00:10:27,616 but just didn't know why. 257 00:10:28,206 --> 00:10:29,526 >> Well, you know, this is amazing. 258 00:10:29,526 --> 00:10:32,206 This is-- not only is it great to have doctors 259 00:10:32,256 --> 00:10:34,016 that have this kind of expertise on board, 260 00:10:34,276 --> 00:10:42,096 but to have the curiosity propel them to look deeper to initiate, 261 00:10:42,096 --> 00:10:46,096 I think, something that is very important not only to our health 262 00:10:46,096 --> 00:10:50,156 on board the Space Station, but to people on Earth, as well. 263 00:10:50,406 --> 00:10:52,736 I think-- I want to not only commend you, but thank you-- 264 00:10:52,736 --> 00:10:52,803 [ Laughter ] 265 00:10:52,803 --> 00:10:54,466 -- on behalf of-- 266 00:10:54,696 --> 00:10:54,926 >> Well-- 267 00:10:54,926 --> 00:10:57,176 >> -- on behalf of all of us, myself included. 268 00:10:57,176 --> 00:10:59,046 >> I accept your thanks, but I also have to mention 269 00:10:59,046 --> 00:11:00,236 that there are so many-- 270 00:11:00,236 --> 00:11:00,526 >> Thank you, yes. 271 00:11:00,526 --> 00:11:02,346 >> -- really smart people on the ground 272 00:11:02,346 --> 00:11:03,606 who have been helping us do this, 273 00:11:04,086 --> 00:11:05,726 and some of them are doctors, 274 00:11:05,726 --> 00:11:07,956 and some of them are researchers, and the problem is 275 00:11:07,956 --> 00:11:09,906 so big-- the questions are so big-- 276 00:11:09,906 --> 00:11:11,716 that we just need lots of heads in this, 277 00:11:11,816 --> 00:11:12,906 and they're doing a great job. 278 00:11:13,326 --> 00:11:16,766 But what the human does when it gets into weightlessness, 279 00:11:17,526 --> 00:11:19,556 immediately the body shape changes. 280 00:11:19,556 --> 00:11:21,396 The chest actually gets a little bigger, 281 00:11:21,396 --> 00:11:23,306 the waist gets a little smaller-- 282 00:11:23,456 --> 00:11:24,926 sounds great doesn't it? 283 00:11:24,926 --> 00:11:25,036 >> Yeah! 284 00:11:25,036 --> 00:11:25,103 [ Laughter ] 285 00:11:25,103 --> 00:11:27,566 >> And that happens pretty quick. 286 00:11:27,566 --> 00:11:30,166 And your internal organs actually move along 287 00:11:30,166 --> 00:11:31,086 with the diaphragm. 288 00:11:31,086 --> 00:11:33,256 It actually goes up a little bit more towards the head. 289 00:11:33,256 --> 00:11:34,736 And that's why your waist gets smaller. 290 00:11:35,686 --> 00:11:37,726 All the fluid shifts to your chest 291 00:11:38,076 --> 00:11:40,336 because there's no gravity keeping it down in your legs. 292 00:11:40,496 --> 00:11:42,476 But really, all of that happens. 293 00:11:42,476 --> 00:11:44,696 Your heart changes, your blood changes, 294 00:11:44,996 --> 00:11:47,606 the way you regulate your body fluid changes, your bone 295 00:11:47,606 --> 00:11:51,206 and muscles, unfortunately, start to come apart 296 00:11:51,486 --> 00:11:53,596 because they're not challenged by gravity every day. 297 00:11:53,596 --> 00:11:56,526 So, we have to exercise really hard to keep those up there. 298 00:11:56,816 --> 00:11:58,456 But basically except for that, 299 00:11:58,456 --> 00:12:00,756 become adapted to weightlessness. 300 00:12:00,756 --> 00:12:02,016 You become an extra-terrestrial. 301 00:12:02,226 --> 00:12:06,136 >> You mentioned earlier, about all the different investigators, 302 00:12:06,196 --> 00:12:08,656 all the different scientists and physicians who are trying 303 00:12:08,726 --> 00:12:13,606 to understand this phenomenon of fluid shifts in micro-gravity 304 00:12:13,946 --> 00:12:15,196 and the effects that it has on us. 305 00:12:16,496 --> 00:12:19,706 I know you flew on the Space Station before I did, 306 00:12:19,806 --> 00:12:21,706 and so going back to the-- 307 00:12:21,706 --> 00:12:22,166 >> I'm old. 308 00:12:22,166 --> 00:12:22,976 >> -- no. No, no, no. 309 00:12:23,086 --> 00:12:24,206 >> I'm just kidding. 310 00:12:24,306 --> 00:12:25,476 >> That's not where I'm going with this. 311 00:12:25,476 --> 00:12:25,646 >> Right. 312 00:12:25,956 --> 00:12:29,306 >> The fact that you-- so we can think about that time period 313 00:12:29,736 --> 00:12:34,766 when you first flew as when the eye problems started 314 00:12:34,836 --> 00:12:36,496 to be a subject. 315 00:12:36,806 --> 00:12:37,246 >> Mm-hmm. 316 00:12:37,246 --> 00:12:40,296 >> And then when I flew, which was I think a year or so 317 00:12:40,296 --> 00:12:43,176 after you did, we started to get instrumentation 318 00:12:43,176 --> 00:12:44,286 on board the Space Station 319 00:12:44,446 --> 00:12:46,226 to actually start investigating this. 320 00:12:46,276 --> 00:12:48,896 This is when, you know, the experts started to come together 321 00:12:48,896 --> 00:12:52,256 and say hey, let's investigate this. 322 00:12:52,516 --> 00:12:52,706 >> Right. 323 00:12:52,956 --> 00:12:55,546 >> And now, today, we have a full complement 324 00:12:55,976 --> 00:12:59,776 of devices just to look at the eye. 325 00:12:59,776 --> 00:12:59,876 >> Right. 326 00:13:00,036 --> 00:13:04,206 >> And that is not to say all the other types 327 00:13:04,246 --> 00:13:08,566 of investigations that are going on-- focused on fluid shifts, 328 00:13:08,566 --> 00:13:10,906 and so, can you share anything more that you know 329 00:13:10,906 --> 00:13:13,716 about those investigations, because I know you work closely 330 00:13:13,966 --> 00:13:16,386 and collaboratively with all of those investigators 331 00:13:16,426 --> 00:13:17,686 that are involved in it. 332 00:13:17,766 --> 00:13:17,996 >> Right. 333 00:13:17,996 --> 00:13:19,056 >> So, tell us a little more about that. 334 00:13:19,056 --> 00:13:20,296 >> No, I mean, that's a great question. 335 00:13:20,296 --> 00:13:23,326 Because one thing we can say for sure is that the issue 336 00:13:23,326 --> 00:13:25,636 with the eye, it's much bigger than the eye. 337 00:13:25,636 --> 00:13:28,156 It involves the brain, the optic nerve, 338 00:13:28,156 --> 00:13:30,576 a lot of the central nervous system, and it's not new. 339 00:13:30,866 --> 00:13:33,846 It's just that we missed it for many years. 340 00:13:34,106 --> 00:13:36,706 Now when we go back and look at medical records, 341 00:13:36,706 --> 00:13:39,306 we find that some of our Russian colleagues had similar things 342 00:13:39,306 --> 00:13:43,286 going on in the MIR station, and clearly, it's been happening 343 00:13:43,326 --> 00:13:44,936 since people have been flying in space. 344 00:13:44,936 --> 00:13:47,026 We know that also from looking back at our records, 345 00:13:47,516 --> 00:13:50,376 but we missed it because we didn't have the tools 346 00:13:50,636 --> 00:13:51,536 that we have now. 347 00:13:51,536 --> 00:13:54,056 We didn't have the flight experience that we have 348 00:13:54,056 --> 00:13:56,676 under our belts now, and so, basically, 349 00:13:56,736 --> 00:13:58,686 we missed something very big. 350 00:13:58,896 --> 00:14:03,276 A global change that represents another aspect of adapting 351 00:14:03,276 --> 00:14:05,016 to the zero gravity which we didn't know. 352 00:14:05,476 --> 00:14:07,476 And why were we able to find it? 353 00:14:07,596 --> 00:14:10,436 Because we have this big, incredibly equipped laboratory. 354 00:14:10,696 --> 00:14:13,956 So, in a way, the International Space Station is doing exactly 355 00:14:13,956 --> 00:14:17,636 what it was designed to do: Providing a big laboratory 356 00:14:17,636 --> 00:14:20,806 with lots of flight experience and the means 357 00:14:20,856 --> 00:14:22,556 to discover really big things. 358 00:14:22,796 --> 00:14:24,796 Now, you know, but I can tell you as a doctor, 359 00:14:24,796 --> 00:14:27,716 that the first thing I think about is boy, 360 00:14:27,716 --> 00:14:29,346 we need to understand this 361 00:14:29,506 --> 00:14:31,486 because this affects everybody who flies-- 362 00:14:31,656 --> 00:14:31,746 >> Yes. 363 00:14:31,876 --> 00:14:34,366 >> -- potentially, and it's not just NASA astronauts-- 364 00:14:34,366 --> 00:14:34,456 >> Mm-hmm. 365 00:14:34,456 --> 00:14:36,576 >> -- it's whoever is going to fly in space afterwards. 366 00:14:37,056 --> 00:14:38,676 The second thing I think as a doctor, 367 00:14:38,676 --> 00:14:39,996 is what else are we missing? 368 00:14:40,266 --> 00:14:42,126 What else have we not found yet? 369 00:14:42,796 --> 00:14:45,096 And so it makes you want to be very aggressive 370 00:14:45,236 --> 00:14:47,546 in doing all the science; the investigations 371 00:14:47,546 --> 00:14:49,966 on the Space Station, because there are surely things 372 00:14:49,966 --> 00:14:52,286 that we don't know, and we don't even understand the eye 373 00:14:52,356 --> 00:14:53,096 thing totally. 374 00:14:53,286 --> 00:14:55,866 >> I was thinking we need to send Mike back up into space-- 375 00:14:55,866 --> 00:14:56,616 >> Yes we do! 376 00:14:56,616 --> 00:14:58,116 >> -- to figure out what the next thing is we need 377 00:14:58,116 --> 00:15:00,046 to look at, quick! 378 00:15:00,046 --> 00:15:00,606 [ Laughter ] 379 00:15:00,606 --> 00:15:03,636 >> But when you start talking about deep space missions, 380 00:15:03,636 --> 00:15:07,306 maybe a year in zero gravity or even three years out and back 381 00:15:07,416 --> 00:15:09,946 to Mars, we're going to ratchet things up a little bit. 382 00:15:10,576 --> 00:15:14,006 And there's several tools that we want to develop 383 00:15:14,076 --> 00:15:16,576 to be sure we know what best counter measures 384 00:15:16,576 --> 00:15:17,546 to use for what mission. 385 00:15:18,106 --> 00:15:19,966 So, certainly, the heavy exercise 386 00:15:19,966 --> 00:15:22,016 that we do is one of those. 387 00:15:22,276 --> 00:15:24,886 Artificial gravity is another thing we'd like to explore 388 00:15:24,886 --> 00:15:26,256 to know when to use it; 389 00:15:26,256 --> 00:15:27,756 what kind of missions might require it. 390 00:15:28,166 --> 00:15:33,226 So, that would be a ship that spins, or getting into something 391 00:15:33,226 --> 00:15:36,106 that spins you for a little while each day to put back some 392 00:15:36,106 --> 00:15:40,076 of those G-loads, some of that gravitational load from orbit. 393 00:15:40,576 --> 00:15:43,556 Certain medications that can actually protect. 394 00:15:43,556 --> 00:15:46,106 We're looking at those that can actually protect the bone 395 00:15:46,166 --> 00:15:49,066 from coming apart from softening too much. 396 00:15:49,596 --> 00:15:52,296 And our biggest problem, is really radiation. 397 00:15:52,996 --> 00:15:55,586 And once you get out of low Earth orbit, 398 00:15:55,586 --> 00:15:59,426 and out from under the magnetic fields that actually help 399 00:15:59,426 --> 00:16:03,196 to shield you, then radiation becomes bigger problems-- 400 00:16:03,286 --> 00:16:06,746 a much bigger problem for us, and so, shielding material, 401 00:16:06,806 --> 00:16:09,266 being able to fly fast to wherever you want to go, 402 00:16:09,266 --> 00:16:10,956 spending less time in deep space, 403 00:16:11,386 --> 00:16:13,136 that will probably be our biggest limiter 404 00:16:13,226 --> 00:16:15,266 to how much time we spend travelling say, 405 00:16:15,676 --> 00:16:17,356 from Earth to Mars, right. 406 00:16:17,966 --> 00:16:19,716 So, there's many different solutions. 407 00:16:19,856 --> 00:16:21,596 One of them is just to fly fast. 408 00:16:21,976 --> 00:16:22,066 >> Yeah. 409 00:16:22,456 --> 00:16:22,546 >> So. 410 00:16:22,906 --> 00:16:26,256 >> Wow. So, and you mentioned, like a whole arsenal of things 411 00:16:26,256 --> 00:16:29,386 that we can do to-- that we call counter measures, 412 00:16:29,386 --> 00:16:30,386 things which will help us 413 00:16:30,446 --> 00:16:34,136 to prevent the problems, or counteract them. 414 00:16:34,136 --> 00:16:35,176 One of the interesting ones 415 00:16:35,216 --> 00:16:37,306 that was onboard the Space Station right now, 416 00:16:37,746 --> 00:16:42,766 is principally from our Russian colleagues, 417 00:16:43,086 --> 00:16:43,786 the chibas [phonetic]. 418 00:16:44,166 --> 00:16:44,346 >> Right. 419 00:16:44,586 --> 00:16:47,166 >> So, do you have any experience with that on orbit? 420 00:16:47,316 --> 00:16:49,286 >> I've actually never been in the chibas. 421 00:16:49,286 --> 00:16:51,236 I've trained to use it as an operator, 422 00:16:51,236 --> 00:16:55,696 so a chibas is actually a bird in Russian. 423 00:16:55,786 --> 00:16:56,916 It's the name of a bird that-- 424 00:16:57,016 --> 00:16:59,386 and they name most of their suits-- their space suits-- 425 00:16:59,386 --> 00:16:59,886 >> That's right. 426 00:16:59,886 --> 00:17:01,356 >> -- after birds, which is really cool. 427 00:17:01,916 --> 00:17:04,876 But the chibas is what's called a lower body negative 428 00:17:05,116 --> 00:17:05,836 pressure device. 429 00:17:06,126 --> 00:17:09,566 And what that does is it seals around your waist, and it keeps 430 00:17:09,986 --> 00:17:11,596 from your waist down to your toes 431 00:17:11,596 --> 00:17:13,756 in a vacuum chamber, if you will. 432 00:17:13,756 --> 00:17:13,926 [ Sucking Noise ] 433 00:17:13,926 --> 00:17:14,806 Yeah. It sucks. 434 00:17:14,806 --> 00:17:15,266 [ Laughter ] 435 00:17:15,266 --> 00:17:17,806 And so, literally, it draws a vacuum down there, 436 00:17:17,806 --> 00:17:20,396 and all the fluids that shift into your head all of a sudden, 437 00:17:20,646 --> 00:17:22,266 now they want to go back down to your feet. 438 00:17:22,356 --> 00:17:24,766 So, it mimics being on the ground again. 439 00:17:24,766 --> 00:17:25,376 Which is really cool. 440 00:17:26,186 --> 00:17:27,366 Starting in a couple weeks here, 441 00:17:27,606 --> 00:17:31,266 we'll have a U.S. crewmember doing LBNP for the first time-- 442 00:17:31,266 --> 00:17:31,496 >> Oh really? 443 00:17:31,496 --> 00:17:32,826 >> -- in about 15 years, actually. 444 00:17:32,826 --> 00:17:33,746 It's really quite amazing. 445 00:17:34,326 --> 00:17:39,936 And so, Scott Kelly, our 1-year guy, and his counterpart, 446 00:17:39,936 --> 00:17:43,996 Mickhail Korniyenko, will both be doing LBNP studies associated 447 00:17:43,996 --> 00:17:45,756 with the eye investigation. 448 00:17:45,876 --> 00:17:48,676 >> Yeah. I flew with both those guys, by the way. 449 00:17:48,676 --> 00:17:48,806 [inaudible] 450 00:17:48,806 --> 00:17:48,936 [ Inaudible Speaker ] 451 00:17:48,936 --> 00:17:49,066 [ Laughter ] 452 00:17:49,066 --> 00:17:51,046 >> And this will be pretty awesome for us, 453 00:17:51,226 --> 00:17:54,706 because we'll be able to combine the Russian LBNP-- 454 00:17:54,986 --> 00:17:55,396 >> Yeah. 455 00:17:55,496 --> 00:17:58,386 >> -- with ultrasound and other really-- 456 00:17:58,456 --> 00:18:01,256 and some of the special cameras that we use to look at the eye, 457 00:18:01,546 --> 00:18:04,946 and so we'll get a look at the effects of moving the fluid, 458 00:18:04,946 --> 00:18:08,026 really, the fluid shifting, on this eye phenomenon, 459 00:18:08,146 --> 00:18:10,156 and that's one of the big pieces to this puzzle 460 00:18:10,156 --> 00:18:11,786 that we've been waiting for for a long time. 461 00:18:12,136 --> 00:18:13,406 >> That is really exciting. 462 00:18:13,406 --> 00:18:13,546 >> Yeah. 463 00:18:13,546 --> 00:18:17,646 >> And I'm telling you, the amount of work that we are able 464 00:18:17,736 --> 00:18:21,236 to get accomplished in just one six-month increment, 465 00:18:21,306 --> 00:18:25,786 which is the typical stay, for both Mike and I, and a number 466 00:18:25,786 --> 00:18:27,106 of other colleagues we have. 467 00:18:27,646 --> 00:18:31,166 But to think about what we're going to gain in a whole year 468 00:18:32,006 --> 00:18:37,116 from both Misha [phonetic] and Scott is pretty exciting. 469 00:18:37,436 --> 00:18:38,136 >> Yeah. We think so. 470 00:18:38,306 --> 00:18:41,266 >> Looking forward to-- especially when they get back, 471 00:18:41,366 --> 00:18:44,146 and [inaudible] about how their experience was personally being 472 00:18:44,146 --> 00:18:46,296 up there for a year, because it's really just scratching the 473 00:18:46,376 --> 00:18:48,426 surface of what we hope to do in the future 474 00:18:48,946 --> 00:18:50,546 of going further into space. 475 00:18:51,406 --> 00:18:51,906 >> Absolutely. 476 00:18:52,086 --> 00:18:52,186 >> Yeah. 477 00:18:52,216 --> 00:18:54,416 >> And I-- I'm in contact with Scott pretty frequently, 478 00:18:54,416 --> 00:18:57,186 and I know two things are true: He's working real hard, 479 00:18:57,186 --> 00:18:58,176 and he's having a great time. 480 00:18:58,456 --> 00:19:00,646 >> That was-- that's two of the most important things. 481 00:19:00,646 --> 00:19:00,713 [ Laughter ] 482 00:19:00,713 --> 00:19:02,776 >> Right, and that's kind of what I remember-- 483 00:19:02,776 --> 00:19:02,843 [ Laughter ] 484 00:19:02,843 --> 00:19:03,256 >> Yeah, exactly. 485 00:19:03,256 --> 00:19:03,406 >> -- as well. 486 00:19:03,666 --> 00:19:04,366 >> Mike, thank you so much-- 487 00:19:04,366 --> 00:19:05,116 >> Oh, it was my pleasure. 488 00:19:05,116 --> 00:19:06,396 >> -- for being here on Station Life, 489 00:19:06,396 --> 00:19:08,126 and we hope to have you back again sometime. 490 00:19:08,196 --> 00:19:08,486 >> Great. 491 00:19:09,016 --> 00:19:09,083 [ Buzzing Noise ] 492 00:19:09,083 --> 00:19:14,076 >> Human beings want to go to Mars. 493 00:19:14,486 --> 00:19:17,336 >> It's a fabulous destination for us to explore. 494 00:19:17,736 --> 00:19:21,846 It has so many scientific questions that we could answer, 495 00:19:21,846 --> 00:19:24,086 and it might actually be the first place 496 00:19:24,086 --> 00:19:28,646 where we find life beyond the atmosphere of our own Earth. 497 00:19:28,796 --> 00:19:32,236 >> We're already working on what to do when we get there, 498 00:19:32,236 --> 00:19:34,506 and how to protect the people who will make the trip. 499 00:19:35,186 --> 00:19:37,796 >> We're doing quite a bit now, actually, 500 00:19:37,796 --> 00:19:40,726 in many different fields: Medical, engineering; 501 00:19:40,726 --> 00:19:43,166 social sciences, to understand what we have 502 00:19:43,256 --> 00:19:45,466 to to send people to Mars. 503 00:19:46,056 --> 00:19:48,556 >> And much of that work is in progress right now, 504 00:19:49,766 --> 00:19:51,936 onboard the International Space Station. 505 00:19:52,516 --> 00:19:57,192 [ Music ] 506 00:19:57,692 --> 00:20:02,368 [ Pause ] 507 00:20:02,868 --> 00:20:07,544 [ Music ] 508 00:20:08,046 --> 00:20:09,746 >> Since the first people flew in space, 509 00:20:10,116 --> 00:20:13,366 we've been studying how their bodies react in an environment 510 00:20:13,366 --> 00:20:17,586 where everything is up in the air because they're weightless. 511 00:20:18,386 --> 00:20:20,126 >> You may develop motion sickness. 512 00:20:20,126 --> 00:20:23,986 You will definitely have fluid shifts into your chest and head. 513 00:20:24,816 --> 00:20:26,106 You will lose muscle strength. 514 00:20:26,636 --> 00:20:27,976 You will lose bone strength. 515 00:20:28,496 --> 00:20:31,486 You will be receiving radiation that we don't receive 516 00:20:31,486 --> 00:20:34,026 on the ground, and we're not sure exactly what that will do. 517 00:20:34,556 --> 00:20:37,316 Exercise is a very effective counter measure. 518 00:20:37,726 --> 00:20:40,936 That, coupled with drugs used for osteoporosis have allowed 519 00:20:41,046 --> 00:20:44,666 to eliminate bone loss in most or all of the astronauts 520 00:20:44,666 --> 00:20:47,336 that have done both the exercise and taken the drugs, 521 00:20:47,756 --> 00:20:51,426 but there's also the isolate, confined, extreme environment 522 00:20:51,686 --> 00:20:54,116 that the astronauts are in, and that's a challenge 523 00:20:54,116 --> 00:20:56,856 to the psychology and mental health and performance. 524 00:20:57,286 --> 00:21:00,656 >> On the International Space Station, we've studied people 525 00:21:00,656 --> 00:21:03,226 in the space environment for six months at a time. 526 00:21:03,626 --> 00:21:06,866 But a Mars mission will take five times as long. 527 00:21:07,266 --> 00:21:09,946 >> Mars missions may take 30 months start to finish, 528 00:21:10,476 --> 00:21:12,326 so I don't think it's a bad idea 529 00:21:12,326 --> 00:21:14,366 to start getting some longer experience 530 00:21:14,496 --> 00:21:16,726 on the International Space Station to give us an idea 531 00:21:16,726 --> 00:21:21,036 of what's awaiting us on these future very long flights. 532 00:21:21,856 --> 00:21:24,296 >> So the station partners are taking the next step. 533 00:21:24,956 --> 00:21:26,966 For the first time ever on this vehicle, 534 00:21:27,226 --> 00:21:30,766 a pair of crew members is going to space for a year. 535 00:21:30,766 --> 00:21:33,656 >> My first flight was very rewarding. 536 00:21:33,996 --> 00:21:36,986 There was certain times that are fun. 537 00:21:37,056 --> 00:21:38,486 It is very challenging to live 538 00:21:38,756 --> 00:21:40,326 on the Space Station for six months. 539 00:21:40,676 --> 00:21:42,306 If we're going to go to Mars, 540 00:21:42,556 --> 00:21:48,026 we need to understand how the human body reacts in space 541 00:21:48,086 --> 00:21:48,976 for longer periods of time. 542 00:21:49,516 --> 00:22:06,546 [ Foreign Language Spoken ] 543 00:22:07,046 --> 00:22:10,266 >> Station science during this year will continue to study bone 544 00:22:10,266 --> 00:22:13,016 and muscle weakness and psychological effects. 545 00:22:13,016 --> 00:22:14,406 But there are new goals, too, 546 00:22:14,736 --> 00:22:17,516 like gauging how being weightless for many, 547 00:22:17,516 --> 00:22:21,406 many months impacts fine motor skills and restful sleep, 548 00:22:22,076 --> 00:22:24,706 and evaluating readaptation [phonetic] to gravity. 549 00:22:25,396 --> 00:22:27,686 >> After the astronauts land in Central Asia, 550 00:22:28,126 --> 00:22:30,496 after the 1-year mission, we'll take them into a small tent 551 00:22:30,496 --> 00:22:32,806 and ask them to do certain very simple 552 00:22:32,806 --> 00:22:36,136 and very routine activities and measure how much they can 553 00:22:36,136 --> 00:22:39,186 and cannot do after the long period of space flight. 554 00:22:39,976 --> 00:22:42,246 >> And the crew will use equipment that's already 555 00:22:42,246 --> 00:22:45,246 on board to try to quantify the fluid shift 556 00:22:45,546 --> 00:22:48,306 that is the prime suspect in vision changes, 557 00:22:48,306 --> 00:22:51,816 and maybe do something about it. 558 00:22:51,816 --> 00:22:53,836 >> Wouldn't it be nice if we could change 559 00:22:53,836 --> 00:22:56,926 that fluid distribution in space flight, and make measurements 560 00:22:56,926 --> 00:22:59,096 of the shape of the eye and other function, 561 00:22:59,256 --> 00:23:03,416 and see if that really is the cause and the effect. 562 00:23:03,416 --> 00:23:05,786 >> At the same time, Kelly and Korniyenko, 563 00:23:05,786 --> 00:23:08,106 and their crew mates, will help with the development 564 00:23:08,106 --> 00:23:10,346 of technologies that will need to be improved 565 00:23:10,446 --> 00:23:12,876 if future deep space missions are to succeed. 566 00:23:12,876 --> 00:23:15,796 >> The International Space Station is a test 567 00:23:16,016 --> 00:23:16,286 bed [phonetic]. 568 00:23:16,286 --> 00:23:19,036 It allows us to test our communications methods; 569 00:23:19,426 --> 00:23:24,866 perfect them so that we know how to handle large delays later on. 570 00:23:24,866 --> 00:23:28,176 >> Station robotics on ISS are developing tools that are going 571 00:23:28,286 --> 00:23:30,556 to assist crewmembers for future missions, 572 00:23:30,556 --> 00:23:33,146 especially long duration missions to Mars. 573 00:23:33,376 --> 00:23:34,826 We're going to assist the crewmembers 574 00:23:34,826 --> 00:23:37,346 by having the robots do the repetitive tasks, 575 00:23:37,346 --> 00:23:40,986 and also do the tasks that are in the dangerous environment 576 00:23:40,986 --> 00:23:42,836 that we don't want to subject our crewmembers to. 577 00:23:43,446 --> 00:23:45,826 >> When we go to sit down and finally design the new-- 578 00:23:46,016 --> 00:23:47,776 next generation regerative [phonetic] life support 579 00:23:47,866 --> 00:23:50,606 for a space craft to take us to Mars, we'll be able to draw 580 00:23:50,606 --> 00:23:52,376 on all the operational experience we've gotten 581 00:23:52,376 --> 00:23:53,696 [phonetic] with the space station systems 582 00:23:53,736 --> 00:23:56,026 to improve the system and make a more reliable 583 00:23:56,556 --> 00:23:58,256 and user-friendly system for the crew. 584 00:23:59,626 --> 00:24:01,986 >> While fostering international cooperation 585 00:24:02,156 --> 00:24:04,576 and providing benefits to people on Earth right now, 586 00:24:05,246 --> 00:24:08,466 and serving as a destination for commercial vehicles 587 00:24:08,466 --> 00:24:12,766 and research, the International Space Station is enabling future 588 00:24:12,766 --> 00:24:13,866 space exploration. 589 00:24:14,296 --> 00:24:16,866 The trip to Mars starts right here. 590 00:24:17,516 --> 00:24:30,636 [ Music ] 591 00:24:31,136 --> 00:24:33,666 >> Okay. So on this episode of Station Life, 592 00:24:33,666 --> 00:24:36,366 we learned about vision changes in space brought 593 00:24:36,366 --> 00:24:39,006 on by the fluid shifts in our body due to the lack 594 00:24:39,006 --> 00:24:41,886 of gravity onboard the International Space Station. 595 00:24:41,886 --> 00:24:44,556 We also learned how we're studying this phenomenon 596 00:24:44,796 --> 00:24:47,126 and what we're doing about it. 597 00:24:47,126 --> 00:24:49,516 This vision research provides insight 598 00:24:49,516 --> 00:24:52,476 into the structural changes that can occur in both the eyes 599 00:24:52,476 --> 00:24:54,026 and the central nervous system, 600 00:24:54,206 --> 00:24:56,826 which can be relevant patients here on Earth suffering 601 00:24:56,826 --> 00:25:00,786 from a wide range of ocular diseases such as glaucoma. 602 00:25:00,786 --> 00:25:04,066 As you can see, research onboard the ISS continues 603 00:25:04,066 --> 00:25:07,796 to benefit us all here on Earth, so be sure to stay in touch 604 00:25:07,796 --> 00:25:09,456 and follow us on Facebook and Twitter 605 00:25:09,536 --> 00:25:12,266 for the latest research news, and do not forget 606 00:25:12,266 --> 00:25:14,426 to download our new app on your mobile device.