Astronaut Mukai is assigned to conduct plant experiments such as peg-formation of cucumbers, and will set the samples and observe and record the plant growth. Since the space shuttle orbits the Earth in a cycle of about 90 minutes, daytime and nighttime alternately appear. Accordingly, the intrabody clock, which senses day and night can not function correctly, and presumably induces sleep disorder in astronauts. Sleep effect, condition of next day and quickness in motion, will also be checked. This experiment is expected to add new data on the study of sleep-hindrance in astronauts.
Protein is one of the most fundamental nutrients for humans to live.
The experiment will acquire data on the protein metabolism in the overall human body and skeletal muscles during flight. The experiment is expected to contribute to the study on nutrients necessary for long-term space habitations.