NASA SP-2003-535 Results from the STS-90, Neurolab Spacelab Mission The The On April 17, 1998, the Neurolab Spacelab mission lifted off from Kennedy Space Neurolab Center. On board were 26 experiments Neurolab dedicated to studying the effects of weightlessness on the brain and nervous Spacelab Mission: system. Over the course of the 16-day mission, the crew worked through the Neuroscience demanding and complex payload to provide Spacelab Mission: Neuroscience Research in Space an in-depth and fascinating look at how a Research basic natural force—gravity—can profoundly in Space affect the nervous system. This book contains the results from the mission. Neurolab’s focus on brain and nervous system research allowed for continued from front flap in-depth studies and provided a series of complementary results. Even though Abstracts and introductions to the individual performing science experiments in reports provide a general scientific reader weightlessness presents significant with a summary of each project and why it Results from the STS-90, logistical and operational challenges, was done. Readers who are knowledgeable Neurolab Spacelab Mission the guiding philosophy on Neurolab about a particular area will find that was to surmount operational challenges individual reports have details comparable to meet the science needs, rather than to what would appear in scientific literature. alter the science to meet the demands Also, reference lists guide readers to the Edited by: of spaceflight. As a result, in most cases, published papers from experiments. Jay C. Buckey, Jr., M.D. the facilities in space on Neurolab were the The Neurolab mission was the last equal of Earth-based laboratories. Where in the Spacelab series, but arguably the Jerry L. Homick, Ph.D. they weren’t equivalent, every effort was most complex and productive. This book is made to provide comparable results. the final stage of that mission: a map of Because of this effort, the Neurolab mission where we have been, a summary of what provides a remarkable scientific story. we have learned—and a guide for where This book offers an overview of we can go in the future. Neurolab for the general scientific reader. It contains both scientific reports from About the editors individual investigator teams and technical Jay C. Buckey, Jr., M.D. was a payload reports on some of the noteworthy specialist astronaut on the Neurolab mission. procedures or pieces of equipment that He is an associate professor of medicine at were developed for the flight. Each major Dartmouth Medical School, and currently area of study on the flight (the balance resides in Hanover, New Hampshire. system, sensory integration and navigation, Jerry L. Homick, Ph.D. was the mission nervous system development in scientist for the Neurolab mission. He is weightlessness, blood pressure control, and currently deputy chief of the Space and Life National Aeronautics and Space Administration circadian rhythms and sleep) is described Sciences Program Integration Office at with illustrations and a brief introduction. NASA Johnson Space Center. He resides Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center NASA SP in Houston, Texas. Houston, Texas 2003 continued on back flap 535 NeurolabThe Spacelab Mission: Neuroscience Research in Space Results from the STS-90, Neurolab Spacelab Mission NASA SP-2003-535 Edited by: Jay C. Buckey, Jr., M.D. Jerry L. Homick, Ph.D. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data The Neurolab Spacelab mission : neuroscience research in space : results from the STS-90, Neurolab Spacelab mission / edited by Jay C. Buckey Jr., Jerry L. Homick. p. ; cm. “NASA SP-2003-535.” Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-9725339-0-7 (hard cover) 1. Central nervous system—Effect of space flight on. 2. Space flight—Physiological effect. 3. Spacelab Program. [DNLM: 1. Spacelab Program. 2. Nervous System Physiology. 3. Weightlessness. 4. Adaptation, Physiological. 5. Neurosciences. 6. Research Design. 7. Space Flight. WL 102 N494513 2003] I. Buckey, Jay C. II. Homick, Jerry L., 1942- RC1151.C45N48 2003 616.9’80214—dc21 2003000685 ii Foreword Neurolab (STS-90) represents a major scientific achievement be named here but several stand out as leaders in their respec- that built upon the knowledge and capabilities developed dur- tive areas of responsibility. ing the preceding 15 successful Spacelab module missions. Neurolab was the brainchild of three people: Frank NASA proposed a dedicated neuroscience research flight in Sulzman from NASA Headquarters, Rodolfo Llinás from response to a Presidential declaration that the 1990’s be the NYU School of Medicine, and J. Wally Wolf of Universities Decade of the Brain. Criteria were established for selecting Space Research Association. They provided the visionary research proposals in partnership with the National Institutes of inspiration for the creation of the mission. Dr. Mary Ann Frey, Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation, the Department the Neurolab Program Scientist, ensured that the overall sci- of Defense, and a number of the International Space Agencies. entific integrity of the mission was maintained. Ms. LeLe The resulting Announcement of Opportunity for Neurolab in Newkirk, the Neurolab Mission Manager, enabled the overall 1993 resulted in 172 proposals from scientists worldwide. integration of the experiment hardware systems into the After an NIH-managed peer review, NASA ultimately selected Shuttle and Spacelab and ensured that the scientific goals of 26 proposals for flight on the Neurolab mission. the mission were not compromised as the experiments moved The mission presented an unprecedented challenge of tech- from the laboratory to flight. Her advocacy for the science on nical complexity with sophisticated experiments representing a Neurolab made a tremendous difference. wide range of neuroscience research. These experiments repre- Dr. Mel Buderer and Ms. Suzanne McCollum at the sented a number of historic “firsts” in space life science research. Johnson Space Center led the implementation of the human The successful demonstration of microneurography, extracellular experiments on the mission, while Dr. Louis Ostrach and Mr. multiple unit recording, general anesthesia, and complex micro- Chris Maese at the Ames Research Center led the implemen- surgical procedures have set the stage for transition to the tation of the animal experiments. Dr. Smith Johnston, the International Space Station as a research platform. The data from Neurolab Flight Surgeon, assured the health and safety of the Neurolab will have far-reaching implications in the neuroscience flight crew. Dr. Joe Bielitski, the NASA Chief Veterinarian, pro- community while helping answer terrestrial research questions vided oversight for the housing, handling, and welfare of the and furthering the goals of human space exploration. various animal species flown on the mission. The international Educational outreach achievements were as impressive Neurolab Steering Committee provided invaluable recommen- as the outstanding scientific productivity of the mission. dations regarding the selection of experiments for the mission Educational activities ranged from the inclusion of histologi- and assisted in the resolution of experiment-related issues as cal specimens from the collection of Santiago Ramón y Cajal, they arose. U.S members of the committee included Dr. Joel 1906 Nobel Laureate in Medicine, to the Morehouse School Davis from the Office of Naval Research; Dr. Kathy Olsen and of Medicine educational curriculum, televised documentary Dr. Christopher Platt, both from the National Science productions, interactive websites, and the Professor in Space Foundation; and Dr. Anthony Demsey, Dr. William Heetderks, program. This mission captured the minds of both the young Dr. James Kiley, Dr. Andrew Monjan, and Dr. Daniel Sklare, all and old in their quest to understand neuroscience. representing the National Institutes of Health. International Finally, on the behalf of the STS-90 crew, it was an honor members of the Steering Committee were Dr. Antonio Guell of and pleasure to work with the many world-renowned scien- the French Space Agency; Dr. Alan Mortimer of the Canadian tists on the investigator teams. The success of the Neurolab Space Agency; Dr. Shunji Nagaoka of the Japanese Space mission was the result of a highly coordinated team effort. Agency; Dr. Heinz Oser of the European Space Agency; and Dr. There were scores of individuals—managers, support scientists, Gunter Ruyters of the German Space Agency. engineers, and technicians—in the United States, Europe, We would like to thank all of those who helped put the Canada, and Japan whose dedicated efforts contributed sig- mission together and all of the many trainers who ensured that nificantly to the ultimate success of the mission. Not all can we were up to the task of completing it successfully. Dave Williams MD FCFP FRCP Mission Specialist 3 (MS3) STS-90 Neurolab Director of the Space and Life Sciences Directorate Johnson Space Center August 2002 iii This book is dedicated to Rodolfo Llinás, Frank Sulzman, and J. Wally Wolf, the initiators of the Neurolab mission The Neurolab mission carried slides made by the Nobel prize winning neuroscientist Santiago Ramón y Cajal. This poster commemorates his work and shows the growth in neuroscience from his ground- breaking experiments at the beginning of the 20th century, to the ability to