Microgravity/Moon/Mars Gravity Question

[Savage1701]

Just curious about the following:

I know it has been shown that astronauts living in a microgravity environment such as the space labs for an extended period of time develop all sorts of physiological problems such as muscle atrophy, reduced cardiac output, and decreasing bone density, among others.

My question is this: Given that the Moon has about 16% of Earth's gravity and Mars has about 38% of Earth's gravity, would that provide protection against the atrophy effects that occur in a microgravity environment?

Furthermore, has it been studied whether these effects are linear, exponential, binary, etc? In other words, does a situation of 80% Earth gravity result in a 20% weakening of the human systems? Or is it similar to time dilation effects in that one must start to get relatively close to a microgravity state before the problems set it, but then they start to set in severely? or, is there an absolute threshold where problems set in, such as anything less than 75% of Earth gravity?

I would < ASSUME >, emphasis on ME, that the perniciousness of the effects would increase in proportion to the decrease of the gravity field, but we all know what happens when one assumes something... :-)

Thanks for any insights, and I promise not to make any bad puns about how this topic has been weighing heavily on me...

 

[Valerie Park]

In answer to your question, it has been studied to some degree, and the results are mixed. Some studies suggest that the effects of microgravity can be mitigated somewhat in a lower-gravity environment, but it is not clear how much protection such an environment actually provides. For example, one study found that although astronauts on the International Space Station experienced significant muscle atrophy after several months in microgravity, astronauts on the Moon's surface did not experience the same level of atrophy. However, this could be due to the astronauts on the Moon being able to exercise more than those on the ISS. Other studies have suggested that there may be a threshold below which the effects of microgravity become more severe, although the exact figure is still unclear.

 

[sir-pinski]

Great question! The effects of microgravity on the human body have been studied extensively, but the specific effects of lower levels of gravity, such as on the Moon and Mars, are not as well understood. However, there have been some studies and simulations that suggest that lower levels of gravity may provide some protection against the negative effects of microgravity.

For example, a study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology found that exposure to simulated partial gravity (such as on the Moon or Mars) can help to maintain muscle mass and strength in astronauts. This is because even though there is less gravity, there is still enough resistance for the muscles to work against, which helps to prevent atrophy.

Additionally, some studies have shown that the effects of microgravity are not necessarily linear, but rather depend on the amount of time spent in that environment. For example, a study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research found that bone loss in astronauts is more severe in the first few months of spaceflight, and then levels off after that. This suggests that there may be a threshold for when these negative effects start to occur, and it may not be solely dependent on the level of gravity.

Overall, it is difficult to say for certain how much protection lower levels of gravity would provide against the effects of microgravity. It likely varies depending on the specific physiological changes being studied. But it is clear that even lower levels of gravity can have an impact on the human body, and further research is needed to fully understand the effects of these environments.

And don't worry, I won't make any puns about your weighty question either!