Can you handle staying in bed for days? Space agency pays volunteers for 10-day experiment
You've probably joked about wanting to stay in bed all day. That's possible—for science. An agency launched a dry immersion study, with volunteers spending 10 days in a unique environment designed to simulate the effects of spaceflight.
The Vivaldi experiment by the European Space Agency recruited 10 male participants to experience a unique "dry immersion" environment at the Medes space clinic in Toulouse, France. The experiment kicked off last March 13.
To simulate the weightless environment of space, volunteers were asked to lie horizontally in specialized, bathtub-like containers, their bodies submerged while arms and heads remained above water. A waterproof fabric ensures they float comfortably and evenly, replicating the sensation of weightlessness experienced by astronauts on the International Space Station.
But how do they manage to do their everyday necessities? Participants enjoy meals with the help of a floating board and pillow, and restroom breaks are handled with a unique trolley system, ensuring they stay horizontal throughout.
According to the agency, participants "take part in a wide range of medical experiments and scientific studies to help researchers understand how space affects the human body."
Following the 10-day immersion, volunteers will participate in a five-day recovery period, which includes post-simulation measurements. They will also return for a follow-up appointment 10 days after the recovery period ends.
In addition to the dry immersion, ESA got 10 male volunteers to do a head-down bed rest study.
“By extending the duration of dry immersion and comparing it to bed rest, we are refining our understanding of how these analogs simulate life in space, the different physiological effects, and how they complement each other,” says Ann-Kathrin Vlacil, team leader for enabling science in human exploration at ESA.
The agency explained that weightlessness causes astronauts to experience a range of physiological changes, including muscle and bone loss, altered eye shape, and fluid shifts to the brain.
"Dry immersion takes weight off the body, creating conditions similar to weightlessness, while head-down bed rest mimics the fluid shifts and inactivity experienced in space due to microgravity," it said.
These studies help scientists understand how space affects the body's systems, like the brain, heart, and metabolism. Researchers are also looking into hormonal changes, immune responses, and connections between the nervous and vision systems.
By studying these changes, they hope to improve astronaut health and even find ways to improve medical care for everyone, including bedridden patients and those with musculoskeletal conditions.
