Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Sunday, 12 October 2008 15:17
Science -
Space
Page 3 of 4
For more specific information on each of the activities listed below, click on the links which should in all cases take you directly to the projects Richard is working on.
From an educational standpoint, Garriott will “communicate with students associated with the
Challenger Center for Space Science Education via a NASA-sponsored teleconference, two HAM radio downlinks in cooperation with Amateur Radio on the ISS, and through videotaped experiments that can be replicated on Earth.”
Garriott will also conduct two science experiments designed by primary and secondary students from the United Kingdom in partnership with the British National Space Center.
From a scientific research standpoint, Garriott will perform a series of experiments that will study the physical impact of spaceflight on astronauts in co-operation with NASA.
He will observe the reaction of the eyes to low and high pressure in a microgravity environment; the effects of spaceflight on the human immune system; and astronauts’ sleep/wake patterns and sleep characteristics.
In addition, Garriott will photograph a number of ecologically significant places on Earth. These photographs will be compared to shots taken 35 years ago by Garriott’s father while in space. Together, Garriott and
The Nature Conservancy will review the images to document how the Earth has changed in one generation.
The scientific experiments don’t end there, as Garriott will also perform a series of experiments that will include the study of early detection of osteoporosis; vestibular adaptation to G-force transitions; and the occurrence of lower back pain - this time in co-operation with the European Space Agency, as opposed to NASA.
Then we come to the commercial activities. First up is the biotechnology company
ExtremoZyme, co-founded by Richard’s father, Owen Garriott. Richard will be conducting Protein Crystal Growth (PCG) experiments.
There’s also a deal with Japanese company Seiko, which has developed the “
Spring Drive Spacewalk” watch, which unsurprisingly has been specifically designed for use in space.
Garriott will be taking the watch to the ISS, where he will be testing it in a microgravity environment.
Even courier and logistics company DHL is getting in on the act, with Richard due to conduct a physics experiment while on the ISS that DHL is sponsoring. The experiment has been designed as an educational contest that will take place at the DHL Innovation Center in Bonn, Germany.
Please read on to page 4 for more information on Richard Garriott, as well as the location of his own special website on his adventures in space, where you can monitor his mission!
