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Author
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Topic: Space Cover 458: Shuttle Bedrest Tests
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Apollo-Soyuz Member Posts: 1205 From: Shady Side, Md Registered: Sep 2004
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posted 03-13-2018 06:55 PM
Space Cover of the Week, Week 458, March 11, 2018 Space Cover 458: Shuttle Bedrest TestsThis Space Cover of the Week commemorates the shuttle bedrest tests, a 27-day schedule of rigorous and demanding medical tests in the research program titled "Shuttle Reentry Acceleration Tolerances" in male and female subjects before and after bed rest. The rational for using bed rest to measure bodily responses is that prolonged bed rest is one way which a physiological approximation of zero gravity experienced in space can be achieved on earth. Bodily changes begin within 24 to 48 hours after total bed rest begins and continues to develop throughout the next 7 days. Once zero gravity has been approximated, medical researchers can study human responses to the introduction of both normal and abnormal shuttle reentry gravity forces. Other tests assess the value of anti-gravity suits as a protection against the stresses expierenced during reentry. ![](http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL84/13579671/24327256/413787204.jpg) NASA conducted two bedrest studies on April 14 to May 11, 1977 and February 2 to 28, 1978 at Ames Research Center. The covers shown were autographed by the test participants. |
Antoni RIGO Member Posts: 176 From: Palma de Mallorca, Is. Baleares - SPAIN Registered: Aug 2013
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posted 03-15-2018 02:32 AM
Wow, John. First "philatelic" new about this specific space topic.I never though that covers for bed rest exist. |
garymilgrom Member Posts: 1966 From: Atlanta, GA Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 03-15-2018 08:16 AM
Very interesting — thanks! |
Bob M Member Posts: 1744 From: Atlanta-area, GA USA Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 03-15-2018 02:24 PM
John and I both pursued covers for these bedrest tests, along with autographs of the test subjects — the tests were officially called: Selection Criteria Studies for Space Shuttle Passengers.I believe that there were six of these bedrest studies conducted, with three groups of male and three groups of female test subjects participating. ![](http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2165/3975520/23835993/413812566.jpg) Official NASA/ARC cacheted cover for test #3 and a test group #3 autographed cover canceled during the testing phase. The first test group was comprised of twelve female USAF nurses in 1973, and the last test group in 1981 was comprised of nine females between 55-65 years old. At least two types of NASA/Ames official cachets were provided for these tests, with one for the 3rd testing session in February 1978 and another for the final test in April 1981. Autographs of the test subjects were easy to obtain, as they were a captive audience and probably had little else to do. ![](http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/smile.gif) ![](http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2165/3975520/23835993/413812567.jpg) Official NASA/ARC cacheted cover for the final test group in 1981 and autographed by all nine subjects. Of interest, famed astronaut nurse, Dee O'Hara, was involved in testing these individuals and autographed one cover as Manager of the Ames Human Research facility where the tests took place. |
Ken Havekotte Member Posts: 2913 From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 03-15-2018 04:52 PM
Here are a few more NASA-Ames Bedrest Test series of signed participant subjects' covers. The earliest shuttle biomedical test project covers of mine are from April 13, 1977 (start day) to May 10 (last day) of that same year.Included in the covers depicted here are a couple of joint US/USSR simulated weightlessness study covers in 1979 as well. It appears that the bedrest test series, which were always conducted at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, CA, didn't end during the early 1980s. There was another call from Ames in January 2002 for human test subjects to participate in a month-long bedrest research study of how long-term spaceflight affects the human body. Did anyone note that two of the covers illustrated above were cover cachets produced by the elusive Stan Henderson (3-Muscateers) of Rodeo, CA. Stan had been an active space cover producer throughout most of the 1970s, however, he had completely dropped out of the scene, and to my knowledge, no one has heard from him ever since. My thanks to John in sharing the topic and a big thanks to Bob for providing me with some of his extra bedrest test covers. ![](http://www.collectspace.com/review/kenhavekotte/shuttlebedrest01.jpg) |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42985 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-15-2018 05:03 PM
quote: Originally posted by Ken Havekotte: ...were always conducted at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, CA, didn't end during the early 1980s.
In recent years, NASA and its contractors also conducted bed rest studies in support of extended human spaceflight at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston.And as recent as October 2017, NASA has been a co-sponsor with the German Space Agency for a series of tests at the DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine's :envihab facility in Cologne. |
Ken Havekotte Member Posts: 2913 From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard Registered: Mar 2001
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posted 03-15-2018 06:16 PM
I stand corrected, Robert, as I didn't know in recent years similar NASA, contractor, and university bedrest-type studies were conducted in Texas and Germany. Thanks for the update. |
Antoni RIGO Member Posts: 176 From: Palma de Mallorca, Is. Baleares - SPAIN Registered: Aug 2013
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posted 06-19-2018 01:59 PM
Just to complete this topic with all tests illustrated, here a SCCS cover postmarked on April 14th, 1977 for the first day of the first test with ten women in the 35-45 age group. Participant's names are quoted in the cover that is not signed as previous ones. And even an earlier cover; the pre-selection of 24 women prior to decide the final 10. | |
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