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Encyclopedia of Bioastronautics pp 1–2Cite as

Bioastronautics: Definition and Scope

Why Risk Humans for Space Exploration

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Definition

Bioastronautics is the intersection of space science and technology with biology and human factors. It encompasses both human and nonhuman space life science, including astronaut performance, protection, and life support as well as the effect of space on biological processes.

Bioastronauticsis the area of science and technology at the boundary of life science and space technology. It encompasses the special influence of space travel on biology, including physiology and medicine. Extended weightlessness, inherent in orbital flight, leads to well-documented physiological deconditioning. Bones, muscles, cardiovascular responses, and the control of posture and balance all suffer from the absence of a steady gravitational pull. The immune system and metabolism show their own reactions to “zero-G.” Reduced gravity, including the 1/6 G of the moon and the 3/8 G of Mars, could cause physiological deconditioning for extended missions – although data is currently unavailable for...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Apollo Program, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139-4305, USA

    Laurence R. Young

Authors
  1. Laurence R. Young
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laurence R. Young .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Room 37-219, Massachusetts Institute of Technolo Room 37-219, CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, USA

    Laurence R. Young

  2. Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine Center for Space Medicine, HOUSTON, Texas, USA

    Jeffrey P. Sutton

Section Editor information

  1. Health Sciences and Technologies (IMES), Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Apollo Program, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, 02139-4305, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Laurence Retman Young Sc.D.

  2. Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, 6500 Main Street, 77030, Houston, TX, USA

    Jeffrey P. Sutton M.D.; Ph.D.; FRCPC

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© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

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Young, L.R. (2017). Bioastronautics: Definition and Scope. In: Young, L., Sutton, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Bioastronautics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10152-1_88-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10152-1_88-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-10152-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-10152-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference EngineeringReference Module Computer Science and Engineering

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Bioastronautics: Definition and Scope
    Published:
    28 November 2020

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10152-1_88-2

  2. Original

    Bioastronautics: Definition and Scope
    Published:
    03 August 2017

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10152-1_88-1

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