Chinese Astronauts Conduct Weightlessness Protection Experiments Aboard the Tiangong Space Station
It is well known that space isn’t great for the human body, with astronauts experiencing significant amounts of cosmic radiation, loss of muscle mass, even their blood is affected. However, in an attempt to combat bone density loss which is another hallmark of weightless space travel, these astronauts are experimenting with some new tech.
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00:00These are the Shenzhou-18 astronauts currently aboard China's Tiangong space station.
00:09Their mission is diverse, but recently the China Manned Space Agency has just announced
00:13a series of successful weightlessness protection experiments in orbit.
00:17It's well known that space isn't great for the human body.
00:20With astronauts experiencing significant amounts of cosmic radiation, loss of muscle mass,
00:25even their blood is affected.
00:26However, in an attempt to combat bone density loss, another hallmark of weightless space
00:31travel, these astronauts are experimenting with some new tech.
00:34The CMSA has developed a device which stimulates bone fluid flow by vibrating targeted areas
00:40of the body.
00:41It initiates an interaction between the osteoblast and osteoclasts, which are special cells which
00:46help your bones develop and grow.
00:47This should, in theory, activate bone growth and increase bone mass, counteracting the
00:52effects of space adaptation syndrome.
00:55In addition, they also use nerve muscle stimulation devices and exercises to prevent muscle atrophy,
01:00another hallmark of space dwelling.
01:02The astronauts are still very much in the data collection phase, but their work could
01:06change the daily habits of other space station dwellers in the future.