A Survey of Chronic Weightlessness Simulation in Biological Research

摘要

The central emphasis of the survey concerns the status of research involving various methods of effecting chronic weightlessness for organisms. Three general types of approach are considered: (1) accelerations that oppose the Earth's gravity, (2) indirect reduction of gravitational effects, and (3) indirect information from increases of gravitational load. After initiation of this survey, the Air Force requested particular consideration of immobilization as one type of approach to the problems of weightlessness simulation. Immobilization (by means of casts, splints, tenotomy, and denervation) is considered as one aspect of the second category listed above. Other aspects of that category are bed rest, support by frictionless devices, buoyant support (during water immersion), and tumbling.