Abstract
Relevance. Prolonged exposure to weightlessness causes serious violations of the functions of the physiological systems of the body: redistribution of fluids in the cranial direction, loss of bone and muscle mass, decreased aerobic performance, orthostatic intolerance, space motion sickness. These effects make it difficult to adapt to the conditions of Earth's gravity and pose a critical risk for future interplanetary missions (to the Moon, Mars), where assistance to the crew at the landing site is impossible.
Goal. To systematize modern software and hardware tools for the prevention of negative effects of weightlessness currently used on the International Space Station (ISS), with an emphasis on the Russian segment, and to evaluate their effectiveness.
Methods. Comparative assessment of Russian (BD-2, WB-3M, “Chibis”, etc.) and international (ARED, CEVIS, T2) preventive measures on the ISS, review of training programs (the Russian system for preventing the negative effects of weightlessness with an emphasis on performing natural locomotion - walking and running; NASA program with the predominance of strength training) and scientific literature.
Results. Physical training is the basis for the prevention of negative effects of weightlessness:
- on a treadmill with axial loading, it is a key tool for maintaining the functions of the cardiovascular system, aerobic performance, orthostatic stability and the ability to perform natural locomotion - walking and running. Running in the "passive" mode of treadmill movement and fast running are especially effective;
on a strength trainer - the most effective remedy against bone loss and muscle atrophy (the main training tool of NASA);
- on the bicycle ergometer - they support the aerobic/anaerobic capabilities.
Additional means in the Russian countermeasure system are: occlusal cuffs used at the initial stage of the flight; muscle stimulators and a support unloading compensator, which are used at the request of the cosmonaut during the flight; a suit for creating negative pressure on the lower body (pneumatic vacuum suit "Chibis"), used at the final stage of the flight; water-salt additives and an anti-overload The Centaur anti-g suit. When comparing the approaches, it was revealed that the Russian system focuses on performing natural locomotion - walking and running on a treadmill, while the system of NASA partners focuses on cycling (CEVIS cycle ergometer) and strength training (ARED strength trainer).
Conclusions. Existing means and methods of prevention of negative effects of microgravity, based on performing physical training on special simulators, significantly mitigate the negative effects of weightlessness on the ISS. The Russian approach to preventing the negative effects of weightlessness consists primarily in performing natural locomotion - walking and running, with an emphasis on fast running and running in the "passive"mode of treadmill. The international partners on the ISS focus on performing cycling and strength training. Nevertheless, the problem of protecting the human body from the negative effects of weightlessness has not been completely solved, no system guarantees complete prevention of physiological changes and rapid readaptation to gravity. For future interplanetary missions, it is necessary to further optimize training protocols and develop new methods of dosing and load adjustment using modern information technologies.