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Space Shuttle

The graduate training program in Space Life Sciences at Texas A&M University is sponsored by:
NASA NSBRI
Fundamentals of Space Life Sciences

The Fundamentals of Space Life Sciences is a required course for NSBRI Fellow's and is taught each Fall semester. Below is the schedule for the Fall 2009 class taught Tuesday and Thursday from 8:00 - 9:15 am in room 200 of the Kleberg Center.

Topics to be covered include Space Physiology (e.g., space environment, musculo-skeletal system, cardiovascular system, exercise and research methods and techniques), Space Nutrition (e.g., nutritional requirements, ground based research models, effect of microgravity on specific requirements, role of nutrition in mediating bone and muscle wasting and radiation exposures), and Space Radiation (e.g., complex radiation environment, detection, biological effects of low- and high-LET radiation, countermeasures).

Fall 2009 Lecture Schedule

September 1, 2009 - The role of NASA and NSBRI in space life sciences. Nancy Turner

TBA - The space environment and how it differs from earth. Major research methods and techniques to study space-related problems and their countermeasures. Sue Bloomfield
  1. Stanford M. and Jones J.A. Space radiation concerns for manned exploration. Acta Astronautica. 45(1): 39±47, 1999.
  2. Vernikos J. Human physiology in space. BioEssays. 18(12): 1029-1037, 1996.

Space Radiation
September 3, 2009 - Radiation and radiation production. Leslie Braby

  1. National Academy of Sciences. Space Radiation Hazards and the Vision for Space Exploration: Report of a Workshop. Ad Hoc Committee on the Solar System Radiation Environment and NASA’s Vision for Space Exploration: A Workshop, National Research Council. http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11760.html. 2006.
September 8, 2009 - The space radiation environment, solar cycle and regions of space
  1. Assigned reading from 9/1 lecture
September 10, 2008 - Radiation detection and measurement. Leslie Braby
  1. Assigned reading from 9/1 lecture
September 15, 2009 - Physical countermeasures against radiation. Leslie Braby
  1. Assigned reading from 9/1 lecture
September 17, 2009 - Radiation chemistry and DNA damage and repair. John Ford
  1. Robbins M. Introduction to Radiation Chemistry. Power Point® Presentation. http://www.radccore.org/wysiwyg/downloads/Intro_to_Radiation_Chemistry.pdf
  2. Suntharalingam N., Podgorsak E.B., and Hendry J.H. Chapter 14: Basic Radiation. http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nahu/dmrp/pdf_files/Chapter14.pdf
September 22, 2009 - Biological effects of high and low LET radiation, synergistic effects of microgravity/altered gravity and radiation. John Ford
  1. Hada Megumi, Cucinotta F.A., Gonda S.R., and Wu H. mBAND analysis of chromosomal aberrations in human epithelial cells exposed to low- and high-LET radiation. Radiation Research 168: 98-105, 2007.
  2. Hamilton S.A., Pecaut M.J., Fridley D.S., Travis N.D., Bandstra E.R., Willey J.S., Nelson G.A., and Bateman T.A. A murine model for bone loss from therapeutic and space-relevant sources of radiation. J Appl Physiol 101: 789–793, 2006.
September 24, 2009 - Biological effects of space radiation observed in astronauts, radiation protection and regulations for space flight. John Ford
  1. Cucinotta F.A., Manuel F.K., Jones J., Iszard G., Murrey J., Djojonegroc B., and Wear M. Space Radiation and Cataracts in Astronauts. Radiation Research 156: 460-466, 2001.
  2. Johnson, A.S., Badhwar G.D., Golightly M.J., Hardy A.C., Konradi A., and Yan T.C. NASA Technical Memorandum 104782. Spaceflight Radiation Health Program at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. 1993.
September 29, 2008 - Biomedical countermeasures to radiation exposure. John Ford
  1. Pransad K.N. Rationale for using multiple antioxidants in protecting humans against low doses of ionizing radiation. The British Journal of Radiology 78: 485–492, 2005.
October 1, 2009. Exam: Space Radiation

Space Physiology

October 6, 2009 - The space environment and how it differs from earth.  Sue Bloomfield

October 8, 2009 - Bone loss and risk of fracture and renal stones I. Sue Bloomfield

  1. Pietrzyk R.A., et al. Renal stone formation among astronauts. Aviat Space Environ Med 78(4, Suppl.): A9–A13, 2007.
  2. Cavanagh P.R., et al. Exercise and pharmacological countermeasures for bone loss during longduration space flight. Gravitational and Space Biology 18(2): 29-58, 2005.
  3. Smith S.M., et al. Bone markers, calcium metabolism, and calcium kinetics during extended-duration space flight on the mir space station. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 20(2): 208-218, 2005.
  4. Lang T.F., et al. Adaptation of the Proximal Femur to Skeletal Reloading After Long-Duration Spaceflight. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 21:1224-1230, 2006.
October 13, 2009 - Bone loss and risk of fracture and renal stones II. Sue Bloomfield
  1. Assigned readings from the 10/8 lecture
October 15, 2009 - Cardiovascular changes: orthostatic intolerance, altered blood flow distribution, aerobic work capacity. Chris Woodman
  1. Jasperse J.L., et al. Hindlimb unweighting decreases ecNOS gene expression and endothelium-dependent dilation in rat soleus feed arteries. J Appl Physiol 87:1476-1482, 1999.
  2. Woodman C.R., Sebastian L.A., and Tipton C.M. Influence of simulated microgravity on cardiac output and blood flow distribution during exercise. J. Appl. Physiol. 79(5): 1762-1768, 1995.
October 20, 2009 - Skeletal muscle atrophy, changes in muscle function. Jim Fluckey
  1. Fitts R.H., Riley D.R., and Widrick J.J. Physiology of a Microgravity Environment Invited Review: Microgravity and skeletal muscle. J Appl Physiol 89: 823–839, 2000.
  2. Stein, T.P., Leskiw M.J., and Schluter M.D. Effect of spaceflight on human protein metabolism. Am. J. Physiol 264 (Endocrinol. Metab. 27): E824-E828, 1993.
October 22, 2009 - Altered muscle protein synthesis and degradation. Jim Fluckey
  1. Fluckey J.D., Dupont-Versteegden E.E., Knox M, Gaddy D, Tesch P.A, and Peterson C.A. Insulin facilitation of muscle protein synthesis following resistance exercise in hindlimb-suspended rats is independent of a rapamycin-sensitive pathway. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 287: E1070–E1075, 2004.
  2. Dupont-Versteegden E.E., Fluckey J.D., Knox M, Gaddy D, and Peterson C.A. Effect of flywheel- based resistance exercise on processes contributing to muscle atrophy during unloading in adult rats. J Appl Physiol 101: 202–212, 2006.
October 27, 2009 - Neurovestibular alterations and "space sickness."  Speaker TBA
  1. Clement, G. Fundamentals of Space Medicine, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht/Boston/London, 2003.
October 29, 2009. Exam: Space Physiology

Space Nutrition

Novermber 3, 2009 - Space Nutrition: Space flight and ground based research in nutrition and review of space food, intake patterns. Nancy Turner
  1. TBA
November 5, 2009 - Protein and amino acid turnover - relationship to loss of muscle mass. Guoyao Wu
  1. TBA
November 10, 2009 - Lipids and energy.  Speaker TBA 
  1. TBA
November 12, 2009 - Mineral requirements, balance studies and other measures of turnover, e.g. Calcium.  Speaker TBA

November 17, 2009 - Antioxidants and other vitamin roles in space. Rosemary Walzem
  1. Halliwell B. Polyphenols: antioxidant treats for healthy living or covert toxins? J Sci Food Agric 86:1992–1995, 2006.
  2. Stein T.P. Space Flight and Oxidative Stress. Nutrition 18:867– 871, 2002.
November 19, 2009 - Interaction of nutrition with radiation. Nancy Turner
  1. TBA
November 24, 2009 - Depressed food intake and its consequences. Joanne Lupton
  1. Smith S.M., et al. The Nutritional Status of Astronauts Is Altered after Long-Term Space Flight Aboard the International Space Station. American Society for Nutritional Sciences. J Nutr. 437-443, 2005.
  2. Smith S.M. and Zwart S.R. Nutrition issues for space exploration. Acta Astronaut. 2008 Sep;63(5-6):609-13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2008.04.010
November 26, 2009 - Thanksgiving Holiday
Decebmer 1, 2009. Exam: Space Nutrition
December 3 & 8, 2009. Student Presentations
December 10, 2009. Reading Day