Colloquium Series Continues on Feb. 3rd with SpSt Alum Jon Rask
The Spring 2014 Space Studies Colloquium Series will focus on “Human Flyby Missions to Mars” and will feature several leading experts in the field.
The second presentation in this series will feature Jon Rask, Life Scientist in the Space Biosciences Division at NASA Ames Research Center. Jon earned a Space Studies M.S. in 2001.
Topic: “Artificial Gravity as a Human Health Countermeasure for Long Duration Spaceflight”
Date: Monday, February 3
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: Ryan Hall, Room 111
About the Topic: Future long duration human exploration of the Moon and Mars will expose astronauts to the deleterious effects of spaceflight. Although artificial gravity has been proposed as a human health countermeasure for reduced-gravity environments, it is unclear what g level, duration, and frequency of exposures is optimal for successful application of artificial gravity in space. This presentation will highlight results from recent human experiments aboard centrifuges at NASA Ames that investigated subject familiarization to centrifugation, as well as the effect that artificial gravity has on the cardiovascular system. Experiences of being an artificial gravity test subject will also be shared.
About the Speaker:
Jon Rask is a Life Scientist in the Space Biosciences Division at NASA Ames Research Center. His current research focuses on human health effects of space flight and the exploration of the Moon and Mars. Jon has investigated the toxicity, reactivity, and abrasiveness of Apollo lunar dust specimens, and developed novel brick-like regolith biocomposite technologies made from lunar dust simulants. Jon has also developed and tested life science hardware and experiments that flew aboard the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. He has performed experiment operations aboard the NASA C9B parabolic aircraft, been a test subject in hypergravity experiments aboard the centrifuge facilities at NASA Ames, and has conducted field astrobiology research in desert and polar regions. Most recently, Jon served as a Principal Investigator for the NASA Ames Space Life Sciences Training Program in Artificial Gravity.
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A live webcast is available here.
Colloquium presentations will be added to the space.edu colloquium website after the live event for later viewing.