HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY IN-SPACE

The universality of gravity (1g) in our daily lives makes it difficult to appreciate its importance in morphology and physiology. Bone and m uscle support systems were created, cellular pumps developed, neurons organised and receptors and transducers of gravitational force to biol ogically relevant signals evolved under 1g gravity. Spaceflight provid es the only microgravity environment where systematic experimentation can expand our basic understanding of gravitational physiology and per haps provide new insights into normal physiology and disease processes . These include the surprising extent of our body's dependence on perc eptual information, and understanding the effect and importance of for ces generated within the body's weightbearing structures such as muscl e and bones. Beyond this exciting prospect is the importance of this w ork towards opening the solar system for human exploration. Although b oth appear promising, we are only just beginning to taste what lies ah ead.