A program for the study of long-term adaptation to a weightless environment providing three-dimensional freedom of movement

The mechanical details of a working model of a proposed small-animal space station which is currently undergoing bench tests are briefly described together with supporting evidence pointing to the feasibility of the program. The one-third cubic meter canister weighs less than 250 kg when loaded for a 9-month period. It would transmit by slow-scan television data concerning mice which it is proposed would be born in the weightless state. Observation of their silhouettes would indicate their growth rates and study of the picture sequence their activity patterns. For example, their use and defense of the feeding and nesting areas and their care of their young.The device would also be used to determine whether the weightless state affected the development of a circadian rhythm or the periodicity of any rhythm that was observed. Recovery of the animals' special living compartment by rendezvous in orbit would permit testing of those born in the device in the earth's gravity field by familiar methods such as those that have been used for the assessment of negative geotactic responses and for the evaluation of rodents living in vertical, as opposed to horizontal mazes.This work was jointly supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Office of Advanced Research and Technology, and the United States Air Force's Aerospace Medical Division through United States Air Force Contract F29600-67-C-0010.