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Development of a chronic irradiation and simulated microgravity facility

Chronic irradiation (IR) and microgravity (MG) are associated with multiple physiological, cellular, molecular, and genetic alterations and thus it is a risk factor during long term human space exploration missions. However, studies on the combined effects of chronic IR and MG on biological systems are largely unknown, because of lack of appropriate facilities. Ground based studies on in‐vivo or/in‐vitro models of simulated MG (SMG) have targeted studies on acute exposure to IR (and usually at relatively high doses). In contrast, relatively few studies with hind‐limb suspended rodents (model of SMG) studies were conducted at various time points following a single or repetitive exposure to IR. The effects of chronic low dose IR administered under conditions of SMG or without are even less studied. Thus in order to study the effects of chronic SMG and IR administered either in combination or in isolation we have planned to build a facility capable of delivering both stresses to small animals. Our approach calls for immediate need of developing facilities in which space flight conditions (SMG and continuous low grade IR with occasional bursts of IR (solar sparks) can be mimicked with a reasonable reliability. Here we discuss the minimal requirements for such facility and provide further arguments showing that without such facility we will unlikely be able to address the question about combined and dissociated effects of IR and MG on human health. Furthermore, having the facility will allow enhanced development of targeted countermeasures diminishing the deteriorating effects of prolonged space flight on human crew health and operational capacity.