Moon, Mars May Yield Info on Physiology

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) – A return to the moon and missions to Mars could produce a wealth of information about human physiology, says an aerospace-medical expert scheduled to testify before a presidential commission.

Stanley Mohler, professor of aerospace medicine at Wright State University’s medical school, has trained specialists for NASA. He is among scientists, educators and business leaders scheduled to testify Wednesday before the President’s Commission on Moon, Mars and Beyond.

The commission is holding hearings nationwide to collect information and recommend how to achieve President Bush’s goal of returning astronauts to the moon and flying to Mars. The hearings at the U.S. Air Force Museum on Wednesday and Thursday are the second in a series of five hearings.

Mohler supports the mission.

“There is much to be learned about human physiology in the one-sixth gravity of the moon,” he said. “And the moon can be the learning stage for the seven-month trip to Mars. On Mars, there is much to learn about the history of our solar system and history of the Earth and global-warming potential and human reactions in one-third gravity.”

Mohler said the low gravity of space weakens muscles, bones and the heart.

“Your muscles start getting weak, and the calcium comes out of the bones, and the heart begins losing its tone,” he said. “It would be the equivalent of permanent bed rest.”

During extended space missions, astronauts have used treadmills to keep the heart in shape and bungee-cord exercises to keep muscles and bones strong.

Mohler said missions to the moon and Mars would enable scientists to come up with ways to help the body deal with the effects of low gravity.

“There is considerable information to be developed on countermeasures for muscle and bone maintenance,” he said.

Mohler said spacecraft on the missions could be hardened to minimize the effects of radiation in space. And he said the crews could be picked for compatibility and provided with recreation to maintain emotional stability during the long space missions.

Daniel Curran, president of the University of Dayton, said he plans to tell the commission the space missions could produce new technologies that could be transferred to the private sector.

“There are tremendous possibilities, unknown possibilities out there,” Curran said.

Also scheduled to testify during the two days of hearings are Patricia Arnold, vice president of education for the US Space Foundation; and June Scobee Rodgers, founding chairman of the Challenger Center for Space Science Education.

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On the Net:

Moon-Mars Commission: http://www.moontomars.org/