Previous NASA Sponsored Research
The laboratory of cell growth has performed a number of studies which investigated the effect of microgravity conditions on mammalian cell function. Dr Millie Hughes-Fulford, the laboratory director flew as a payload specialist on STS-40, the first Spacelab mission dedicated entirely to space life sciences research in 1991.
The laboratory investigated osteoblast growth activation in microgravity, in a series of experiments in the Biorack facility onboard the Space Shuttle. Osteoblasts are cells responsible for maintaining bone growth. During spaceflight astronauts steadily loose bone mass, which could be a serious obstacle to a very long duration mission such as a voyage to Mars. Furthermore, bone mass is lost during ageing eventually resulting in brittle bones susceptible to fracture (osteoporosis). Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of bone loss under microgravity is important for both long term space exploration and osteoporosis.
The laboratory experiments on osteoblast growth under microgravity are described in detail here;
The
Osteo Patch
Background: Astronauts lose bone during spaceflight
Why do experiments in space?
What is osteoporosis
How to combat osteoporosis
Earth's benefits of this project
Details of our previous missions:
PowerPoint Slide Presentation full color with photos with handout notes on "Living and Working in Space" click here to Download the 2.2MB file uses Office 98 (MAC) or Office 97 (PC)
Laboratory of Cell Growth Literature References with abstracts and selected articles in full text
Previous microgravity experiments investigating leukocyte signal transduction by Jason P Hatton and Didier Schmitt (STS-65, -76, -81 and -84)