NASA And JAXA Astronauts Do Biomedical Studios On The Space Station

JAKARTA Space observations are not limited to technology. Astronauts, especially NASA astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS), also make observations in the health sector.

On Tuesday, May 27, members of the Expedition 73 crew conducted a biomedical study on how weightless or gravityless conditions could affect cardiovascular or immune systems. The results of this study will help doctors.

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and Astronaut of the Japan Space Exploration Agency (JAXA) Takuya Onishi focus on space biology studies. The two astronauts assist doctors in observing heart function and cellular immunity.

In a report, NASA explained that Kim scanned her chest using the UltrasoundECHO system operated remotely by ground surgeons on Earth. This study was conducted in the Columbus laboratory module.

During the scan, medical operators searched for changes in the function of the heart and arteries influenced by space. Meanwhile, Onishi collected and processed blood samples and her own saliva as part of the immunity test study.

Unlike Kim, the immunity study was carried out in Harmony modules. After that, Onishi kept samples of her saliva frozen and included blood specimens in a cubic incubator.

"These experiments observe how space flight factors such as weightlessness and radiation affect the function of cellular immunity," NASA said, quoted on Wednesday, May 28.

Please note that NASA also needs doctors to maintain the health of its astronauts. Therefore, doctors need to study the physiological aspects of astronauts around before, during, and after flight in space.

By continuously collecting data from astronauts, doctors can get a clearer picture of the body's reaction and adaptation to microgravity. Later, doctors can assist NASA in designing training programs, nutritious diets, and others to keep astronauts healthy.