MAIN MEDICAL RESULTS OF EXTENDED FLIGHTS ON SPACE STATION MIR IN 1986-1990

During 1986-1990 seven prime spacecrews (16 cosmonauts) have flow on-b oard the Mir orbital complex. The longest space mission duration was 3 66 days. The principal objectives of the medical tasks were the mainte nance of good health and performance of the spacecrews and conducting medical research programs which included study of the cardiovascular, motor, endocrine, blood, immune, and metabolic systems. Results obtain ed point to the ability of humans to readily adapt to a year-long stay in space and maintain good health and performance. Readaptation had a similar course as after other previous long-term space flights of up to 8 months in duration. Primary body system changes were not qualitat ively different from findings after flights aboard the Salyut 6 and 7 space stations. In this case, during and after an 11-12 month flight, body system alterations were even less severe which was a result of ad equate countermeasure use, their systematic and creative employment an d maintenance of required environments to support life and work in spa ce.