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Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
7-day bed rest test helps study spaceflight effects
Koustabh Kari (left) and Akshat Mohite BENGALURU: The Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) under the Indian Air Force (IAF) has completed a seven-day continuous head-down bed rest study to simulate microgravity and investigate how spaceflight affects the human body and mind. The experiment, held between July 10 and 16 at IAM's campus in Bengaluru, is India's first focused study on both physiological and cognitive changes linked to prolonged weightlessness. Two civilian volunteers — Akshat Mohite, 27, founder of the space startup Astroborne Space from Bengaluru, and Koustubh Kari, 23, an MSc Chemistry student from KLE University in Dharwad — took part in the study called 'Satata-shayanānusandhānam'. For seven days, Mohite and Kari remained in a 6° head-down tilt position, lying face-up without standing, sitting, or stepping out of bed. 'This tilt angle was chosen carefully, as it is an internationally accepted standard used by agencies like Nasa and European Space Agency to simulate the effects of microgravity on Earth. The posture causes fluid shifts towards the head, mimicking what astronauts experience in orbit,' one source said. All daily functions, including eating, drinking, and hygiene, were performed while maintaining this posture. Both participants consumed meals developed by the Defence Institute of Bio Defence Technologies (DIBT) for astronauts, similar to those used in isolation studies, and drank water through sippers designed for use while supine. IAM researchers monitored a range of physiological changes during the trial. These included cardiovascular conditioning, muscle atrophy, bone density loss, neurovestibular changes, and fluid redistribution toward the brain. Ultrasound scans of the optic nerve sheath were done every alternate day to detect signs of intracranial pressure, which can occur when body fluids pool in the upper body under microgravity conditions. Baseline tests were performed before the trial to assess medical history, blood and urine profiles, limb muscle girth, and vestibular system stability. Cognitive functions were tested using IAM's in-house software Psumeda, designed to track attention, memory, and decision-making. These assessments were repeated during and after the trial to detect any cognitive decline. Throughout the study, researchers recorded various physiological parameters: continuous heart rate, blood pressure, Muscle girth, Intraocular pressure. Mohite has previously undergone centrifuge training in the US and has experience with space analogue isolation studies. Kari, the second participant, is a student with no prior space analogue experience. The data collected will help develop protocols to manage astronaut health during long-duration missions. 'The team will use the results to design exercise regimens and cognitive training protocols aimed at reducing the risks of cardiovascular deconditioning, muscle loss, and cognitive decline in space. The study will also contribute to understanding neurovestibular changes that can lead to dizziness or balance issues after spaceflight,' another source said. Beyond astronaut applications, the findings may be useful for improving care protocols for bedridden patients on Earth, particularly for geriatric care and rehabilitation. This study ran in parallel with the IAM's Anugami analogue mission — which TOI had reported on Jul 20 — which focused on crew behaviour and psychological resilience in isolation. IAM plans further experiments of longer durations in future phases.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Shubhanshu Shukla's mission validates India's astronaut selection & training: Former IAM chief
BENGALURU: For the first time, India's astronaut training protocols are being tested and validated in real space conditions, said Air Vice Marshal Anupam Agarwal, former Commandant of the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM), which is responsible for selecting and preparing Gaganyaan astronaut-designates. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In an exclusive interview to TOI, Agarwal, who was an air commodore when he helmed IAM, described Group Captain 's (Shux) current mission to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission as a critical milestone for India's human spaceflight efforts. 'The entire aerospace medicine process, physiological and psychological selection, is being validated. Not only was he selected well, but also the test standards we developed, the procedures we followed, the psychological selection methods, everything is now being put through a real microgravity test,' Agarwal said. 'It is a fulfilling feeling,' he added. IAM's involvement in astronaut screening goes beyond selection. It collects extensive baseline medical and physiological data before a mission. According to Agarwal, this data is now central to studying how microgravity affects Indian astronauts. 'Changes, if any, will be compared with the kind of changes we expect in microgravity. We will study those extensively and try to determine whether our methods for collecting and interpreting baseline data were correct. This will bolster the entire process.' Agarwal said India's limited past exposure to human spaceflight made missions like Shukla's especially important. 'This is extremely complicated and many developed nations have attempted it and were unable to achieve it. For us, international exposure is the best thing that could happen to this programme.' He added that knowledge about human spaceflight is often not openly shared in literature and can only be gained through experience. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'If we want success, we must learn fast, learn accurately and learn what's relevant.' Looking ahead to Gaganyaan and future Indian space missions, Agarwal said IAM's role will be critical. 'The aerospace medicine specialists are to the human what the engineers are to the spacecraft. They help design the human-use products, the man-machine interface, the safety of crew, acoustic, visual, vibration and acceleration standards, clothing, hygiene products and so on.' Reflecting on his personal experience of selecting India's first set of astronaut-designates, Agarwal said shortlisting Shukla was a memorable moment for him and his team. 'We agreed that we have been extremely lucky in life. The selection process allowed us to meet some of the brightest, most intelligent and professionally sound humans in the country. Shux is one of them. How many people have this opportunity? It was, is and will remain an excellent experience to meet Shux.'
