Zero+Gravity

=__//Zero Gravity// __ = Created by: David Tolbert and Garrett Taylor

All life on Earth is accustomed to the presence of gravity. When that presence is removed or altered, biological processes can go awry. Initial ventures into space were conducted with great care to ensure that no damage would be incurred during the spaceflight. Animals were the first living organisms to be sent up into space, and when they returned unharmed (although scared), they were quite confident that humans could also withstand the journey. In April of 1961, a Russian cosmonaut named Yuri Gagarin became the first person in space when he orbited the Earth in 108 minutes.

//__What is Zero Gravity?__//
Zero Gravity is the feeling of weightlessness in space.

   Creating Zero Gravity  One way to create zero gravity is by flying on an airplane. By ascending a steep angle, leveling off and then creating a dive (known as a parabolic arc), the plane creates a force that pulls gravity in a vertical motion. Everything that is in a horizontal velocity remains the same. Weightlessness  You can also experience weightlessness in orbit. As a rocket or spacecraft accelerates, an astronaut's body accelerates at the same rate. Weightlessness occurs because there is no contact force. The body cannot experience gravity because there is no other opposing force.

==//__Effects on humans (healthwise)__// The most common problem experienced by humans in the initial hours of weightlessness is known as [|space adaptation syndrome] or SAS, commonly referred to as space sickness. Symptoms of SAS include [|nausea] and [|vomiting], [|vertigo], [|headaches], [|lethargy], and overall malaise. The first case of SAS was reported by [|cosmonaut] [|Gherman Titov] in 1961. Since then, roughly 45% of all people who have flown in space have suffered from this condition. The duration of space sickness varies, but in no case has it lasted for more than 72 hours, after which the body adjusts to the new environment.==

//__The effects on the body: [[image:http://library.thinkquest.org/C003763/images/adapt/spaceman.jpg width="439" height="320" caption="Diagram of the effects of weightlessness on the human body"]]__//

 * __Long Term Effects__
 * One major problem is the effect of microgravity on bone depletion. In this scenario, bone in the body demineralises and loses calcium which can lead to a loss of 2% of total bone mass per month. Another effect similar to this is muscle atrophy. This occurs when the body uses less force to move muscle, and muscle therefore begins to degenerate unless a rigorous exercise regime is followed.


 * __Short Term Effects__
 * A more minor affect on the body is due to the lack of a gravitational pull on the liquids in the body causing a puffiness of the face and reduction in size of the legs.
 * Other problems are related to motion sickness and poor balance due to the mixed signals received in cochlear fluid when gravity isn't present to help with orientation.

[] [|www.gozerorg.com] [|www.starwithabang.com] [|www.tourtoo.com] [|www.spacetourism.com] [] [] []