At the end of each session, the data will be analyzed and displayed on the computer so that the crew member can decide if the test was completed successfully. A minimum of 4 subjects will need to be tested so crew members of at least two long-duration missions will be involved. At this time, they will be on flights 5A.1 and 7A.1. Medical experiments conducted on the ground or in space may benefit the public in several, quite different ways. The type and combination of benefits depends on the nature of the experiment.
Some studies add to our basic knowledge of human function.
This gradual accumulation of facts from many sources is fundamental to the scientific process and eventually leads to improved understanding of disease mechanisms. This is a necessary first step but specific, future benefits are not always obvious. The immediate goal of the H-Reflex Experiment is to determine if spinal cord excitability decreases during prolonged weightlessness. If true, the cause may be altered signals transmitted from the balance organs to the spinal cord. If this also proves to be true, then a similar phenomenon may be occurring in patients with inner ear damage and the countermeasures referred to below might be useful.