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RLF Project
"RLF" (Russian Longterm Flight) was a joint endeavour of
Austrian and Russian experts in the area of spaceflight medicine
and physiology. RLF was organized by the Institute of Biomedical
Problems (IBMP) Moscow, and–under the auspices of the
Austrian Ministry for Sciences and Research–by the Austrian
Society for Aerospace Medicine in Vienna. RLF built upon the
successful AUSTROMIR mission in 1991, which sent an Austrian
cosmonaut for 1 week aboard the MIR space station.
RLF investigated, from
1993 to 1997, cosmonaut's body functions before, during, and
after sojourn in orbit of several months duration each - the
longest being the legendary world record of 14 months:
Cosmonaut Dr. Valeri
Vladimirovich Polyakov -
born April 27, 1942, in Tula, Russia.
Pilot-cosmonaut, Hero of the Soviet Union. Now Deputy Director,
IMBP. Academician, Vice-President of the Tsiolkovsky Cosmonautics
Academy, Russia. Total time spent in space: 678.7 days. Longest
space flight in history - flight time:
437.75 days. The 15th Main Expedition Crew, comprising V.M.
Afanasev, Y.V. Usachev, and V.V. Polyakov, was launched with
Soyuz TM-18 on January 8, 1994. The capsule docked at MIR's Kvant
module on January 10. The Austro-Russian biomedical experiments
formed an integral part of this mission:
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The
experiments
Bodyfluids / Interstitium
- Subject: Blood
and extracellular volume regulation
- Main hardware: Proteinometer, LBNP-device ("Chibis"-suit)
- PI: Helmut G. Hinghofer-Szalkay, Victor B. Noskov, Richard
Kvetnansky
- Institutions:
Physiologisches Institut, Karl-Franzens-Universität
Graz; IBMP Moscow; Institute for Experimental
Endocrinology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava
- Major results: Volume regulation as
judged by basal hormone concentrations (eg, aldosterone,
PRA, vasopressin, catecholamines, ANP and cGMP) and
LBNP-induced changes indicated no consistent alterations
due to long-term sojourn onboard the Space Station, with
the exception of very low ANP and cGMP levels during and
shortly after the flight. It is concluded that human
travel to Mars may be unimpeded in terms of hormonal
volume regulation.
Cogimir
- Subject: Alertness
and mental performance
- Main hardware:
DATAMIR computer
- PI: Thomas Benke, O.
Koserenko
- Institution:
Neurologische Universitaetsklinik Innsbruck; IBMP Moscow
- Major results: There was a transient decrease in alertness, executive
and visuo-spatial functions which returned to preflight
control levels after several weeks in orbit. Similarly,
transient functional deficits occurred early postflight.
This suggests a differential–type adaptation
response (contrasting a rather PI-type as observed in
Monimir). As a conclusion, higher brain functions might
be compromised after long-term space missions, eg when
landing on Mars, which would pose a potential operational
problem.
Dosimir / Adlet
- Subject: Minidosimetry
- Main hardware:
Thermoluminescence crystals
- PI: Norbert Vana,
J.A. Akatov
- Institution:
Atominstitut der Oesterreichischen Universitaeten; IBMP
Moscow
- Major results: The goal of this experiment was to develop and test an
advanced use of thermoluminescent crystals for
minidosimetry and assessment of quality factor at the
same time. With this approach, the radiation profile
onboard spacecraft can be determined as a function of
location and vehicle orientation. It remains to be seen
how much radiation jeopardizes health and fitness of
humans travelling interplanetary space; no suited
database yet exists to reliably assess long-term
radiation risks involved.
Microvib
- Subject: Muscle
tone regulation, tremor
- Main hardware: KYMO
biosignal monitor, sensor jacket, hand ergometer
- PI: Eugen Gallasch,
Inessa B. Kozlovskaya
- Institution:
Physiologisches Institut, Karl-Franzens-Universitaet
Graz; IBMP Moscow
- Major results: Analysis of spontaneous tremor suggested that the
musculoskeletal system is quite relaxed under
microgravitational conditions; remaining oscillations are
almost entirely caused by heartbeat. Induced tremor in
the 7-13 Hz band is well recognizable, however. Neither
central nor peripheral components of fatigue seem change
with long-term flight. Alterations as observed in the
lower legs are conceivably caused by muscular atrophy
which is typical for extended stay in orbit.
Mirgen
- Subject: Immune
status monitoring
- No onboard hardware
- PI: Helga Tuschl,
Y.I. Voronkov
- Institution:
Forschungszentrum Seibersdorf; IBMP Moscow
- Major results: This experiment was designed to widen knowledge on
spaceflight-related changes within the immune system.
Provoked antibody production in vitro was decreased
postflight, but generally the observed decrease of
immunocompetence was rather mild. It remains unclear how
the bodily defense systems will behave when humans leave
low-earth orbit for extended time periods; more data need
to be gathered in order to judge the risk of
immunotoxicity with interplanetary travel.
Monimir
- Subject: Sensorimotor
coordination
- Main hardware:
MONIMIR device
- PI: Meinhard Berger,
Inessa B. Kozlovskaya
- Institution:
Neurologische Universitaetsklinik Innsbruck; IBMP Moscow
- Major results: It was shown that, as compared to ground control
conditions, visual information is given higher priority
within motoric planning and spacial orientation in
weightlessness – task-oriented motion continually
worsened when optical input was lacking. Intentional
movements were slowed down, which seems to indicate
altered strategy in motion planning. The observed time
course of changes suggests quick initial rearrangements
followed by continuous slow further neuronal adaptation
later inflight. Postflight, readaptation was fast and led
to complete functional restitution.
Motomir / Myo-Motoscan
- Subject: Muscle
function testing
- Main hardware:
MOTOMIR training and monitoring device
- PI: Norbert Bachl,
Inessa B. Kozlovskaya
- Institution: Institut
fuer Sportwissenschaften, Universitaet Wien; IBMP Moscow
- Major results: Maximum force output is quickly reduced in
weightlessness. Extensors are more severely affected than
flexors, which bears consequences for postural and
locomotor competence after extended spaceflight. On the
other hand, the observed decrease quickly levelled
towards a new plateau which was considered subcritical
– probably a consequence of sufficient muscular
training the cosmonauts adhered to. The inflight dynamic
interrelations of force, joint angle and motion velocity
were not different from ground controls.
Optovert / vertikale Vektion
- Subject: Oculomotor
control
- Main hardware:
Optokinetic stimulator
- PI: Christian
Mueller, L. Kornilova
- Institution:
Neurologische Universitaetsklinik Wien; IBMP Moscow
- Major results: Despite individually different responses within
oculomotor-visual coordination, an average pattern could
be observed: The gain within vestibular centers governing
eye movements changed, orientation stability decreased,
and spontaneous nystagmus transiently occurred. A
dissociation of inherently coupled oculomotor and
vestibular functioning was concluded which would allow
for readjustments as needed in weightless conditions.
Pulstrans / Schlaf
- Subject: Neurovegetative
monitoring
- Main hardware: KYMO,
sensor-jacket
- PI: Max Moser, R.
Baevsky
- Institution:
Physiologisches Institut, Karl-Franzens-Universitaet
Graz; IBMP Moscow
- Major results: Cardiovascular monitoring during sleep, resting
conditions, and exercise did not show indication of
unusual stress, which however was largest during and
after landing. These observations add to evidence of a
critical postflight phase, potentially jeopardizing crew
performance after arriving on Mars, or during emergency
egress from a space vehicle on Earth.
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