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Scientists are particularly interested in Saturn's moon Titan because it's one of the few known moons with its own dense atmosphere. Titan's atmosphere is also thought to be very similar to what Earth's atmosphere was a long time ago. By learning about Titan, we'll learn about our own planet.
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This site is no longer maintained. It contains historical data.

For current information about the NASA Astrobiology Program, please visit http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/


2001-08-10 | SCIENCE
Mixed Up in Space

Astronauts in space are often portrayed bobbing about playfully in the zero-gravity environment of orbit, floating food to their mouths or bouncing back and forth between the walls of their compact environs. But life in microgravity (weightlessness) isn’t always so pleasant. The absence of gravity in space can be a bewildering experience for men and women who have unconsciously relied on gravity all their lives for balance and orientation. On Earth, the sense of "up" and "down" is established by the pull of gravity on our vestibular system—sensors in the inner ear. In space, however, the absence of gravity confuses the vestibular system and makes an astronaut’s world suddenly seem topsy-turvy. Microgravity can also confuse the proprioceptive system—nerves in the body's joints and muscles that tell us where our arms and legs are without having to look. Without the constant pull of gravity, astronauts can lose track of their limbs while relaxing or sleeping. Microgravity can cause "space sickness," with symptoms including headache, nausea and vertigo. It can take days for astronauts to reorient themselves in space, limiting their ability to perform tasks. This loss of productivity makes figuring out how to prevent and treat space sickness is a high priority for NASA. Understanding how Earth life reacts to conditions in space is one of astrobiology's main goals.


More on this story Full text of original item from NASA, Aug 10, 2001

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