NASA IS PLANNING TO FLY a new multi-disciplinary life and microgravity sciences Spacelab research mission on the Space Shuttle Columbia STS78 flight in 1996. The picture shows six of the crew of the earlier STS47 Spacelab mission. The new 16-day mission, with a crew of seven, will involve 21 investigations, 15 in life sciences and six in microgravity sciences. Principal tests selected so far for the Life and Microgravity Spacelab (LMS) mission come from Canada, Italy, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA. Subjects to be probed in the LMS include changes and adaptive mechanisms of living systems, animals and humans under weightless conditions, covering bone and muscle deterioration, balance disorders, heart and lungs, and changes in body chemistry, fluid regulation and the immune system. The studies will also assess the effects of microgravity on the musculoskeletal system and on sleep and performance. Microgravity investigations will focus on protein crystallisation, fluid physics and material sciences.""
Source: Flight International
