Metabolic Testing with Quark CPET at the European Planetary Habitat Simulation Project
The physiological effects on humans of prolonged exposure to both reduced gravity and hypoxia was investigated by the EU PlanHab project.
The aim of the European Commission Framework 7 project "Planetary Habitat Simulation" (acronym:PlanHab) is to investigate the combined and interactive effects of hypoxia and sustained recumbency (bedrest), on human physiological systems. The partial pressure of oxygen in the environmental gas inside future planetary habitats will be lower than in atmospheric air. Prolonged exposure to low gravity will result in deconditioning of vital physiological systems, and may pose a threat to the long-term health of astronauts. However, it is not known how prolonged exposure to both reduced gravity and hypoxia will affect human health.
The tests consist of monitoring healthy humans confined to a hypoxic environment and prolonged bedrest for a full 21-days. The physiological effects of this conditions was investigated. Quark CPET was used for monitoring metabolic and cardiorespiratory functions.
