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Biomedical subjects

W J Ockels

Publications and source records attributed to W J Ockels.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

The third ESA Student Parabolic-Flight Campaign.

Today's students will become tomorrow's workforce and hence they should be involved in the global space programme as early as possible so that they will be motivated to follow space careers and create a space-educated next generation for working within the space domain. Getting students involved in today's space programmes is important not only for the space industry in terms of providing a talented workforce for the future, but also for the general public who will be the future voters and potential political supporters of future European space activities. With this in mind, ESA's Office for Education and Outreach organises and runs many space-related activities for young people in order to stimulate their interest in space in particular and in science in general. One of these activities is the 'Student Parabolic-Flight Campaign'.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

The second parabolic flight campaign for students.

In conjunction with the European Commission's 'European Week for Scientific and Technological Culture' in November, ESA organised the second parabolic flight campaign for students. Students selected through a competition, were again given the unique opportunity of experiencing weightlessness as they performed their own scientific experiment during a parabolic flight. The experiments covered a wide variety of disciplines. Some illustrated well the effect of microgravity while others may offer new and far-reaching scientific results. The primary goal, however, is to educate and motivate the students rather than to obtain new research. It is hoped that the campaign will stimulate the next generation to think about space and the potential of microgravity. It is in that way that an innovative future user community for the International Space Station Alpha can be built. The great enthusiasm shown by many students and the wide coverage provided by the media also demonstrate the interest in space and the promotional value of the campaign.

Biological Science Disciplines↗
PubMed1995

The first parabolic flight campaign for students.

In the last week of November 1994, a different type of parabolic flight campaign took place: For the first time, students were given the unique opportunity of experiencing weightlessness. The campaign was part of the second European Week for Scientific Culture and the main goal was to motivate and educate the students rather than to obtain pure scientific and technological results as is normally the case in 'professional' campaigns. Twenty student experiments were chosen in a Europe-wide competition and the winning student teams were invited to carry out the experiments during a series of parabolic flights. The experiments covered a wide variety of disciplines ranging from general and fluid physics to material processing, crystal growth, and technology research. The campaign was a great success, all experiments worked well and the students proved to be a serious and motivated workforce which performed well in the rather unsettling microgravity environment. By learning from each other's experiments and through the unique personal experience of weightlessness, the students have become ambassadors for microgravity research. Most importantly, they have shown that we can have confidence in the next generation to make good use of microgravity research opportunities, including the International Space Station, in the future.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Simulation of space adaptation syndrome on earth.

The three Spacelab D-1 Scientist Astronauts were exposed to a 1 1/2 h 3 g centrifuge run in the supine position, resulting in a linear 3 g acceleration in the x-direction. They used their space experience to evaluate their readapting to normal gravity and compared their observations with 'Space Adaptation Syndrome'. After the centrifuge runs, the vestibular visual system appeared to be modified in a very specific and reproducible manner. Readapting to the normal 1 g environment took at least 6 h. During this period there was a striking similarity to the astronaut's experience during adaptation to weightlessness in space. A series of vestibular tests were then performed, confirming these subjective findings.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1989

Simulation of Space-Adaptation Syndrome on Earth.

The three Spacelab D-1 Scientist Astronauts were exposed to a 1.5 h centrifuge run in the supine position, resulting in a linear 3 g acceleration. They used their space experience to evaluate their readaptation to normal gravity and compared their observations with 'Space Adaptation Syndrome'. After the centrifuge runs, the vestibular visual system appeared to be modified in a very specific and reproducible manner. Readaptation to the normal 1 g environment took at least 6 h. During this period there was a striking similarity to the astronauts' experience during adaptation to weightlessness in space. Vestibular tests were subsequently performed, which confirmed these subjective findings.

Adaptation, Physiological↗