Simon Fraser University|Université Simon Fraser

Purpose

Wobbly legs, dizzy spells and even fainting experienced by astronauts on return to Earth are serious health and safety concerns. While a major part of this is the loss of the effect of gravity on the body, another may be related to being isolated in a small group. This results in stress which could result in reduced quality of life and health. This is not unlike what many of us experienced during the pandemic lock down. The HERA facility allows us to study how posture and cardiovascular function are affected in isolation to better protect astronauts and isolated older persons.