Partner News


ISU Professors conduct experiment onboard the CNES-ESA A300 Zero-G Aircraft

Written by: developer

Strasbourg, France (Oct. 10, 2012) – In preparation for its flight on the International Space Station, ISU Professors Gilles Clément and Angie Bukley collected data for the Straight-Ahead in Microgravity (SAM) experiment during the 98th CNES parabolic flight campaign in Bordeaux, France, which took place on October 2-4, 2012.

The SAM experiment is a CNES-ESA led activity conducted in collaboration with NASA. It investigates the subjective straight-ahead direction, or egocenter, which is a very basic perceptual reference for spatial orientation and locomotion, and is largely determined by both balance and somatosensory inputs on Earth. These inputs are altered in microgravity, so it is hypothesized that the direction of the subjective straight-ahead changes in astronauts in orbit. Such changes could potentially have negative consequences for the evaluation of the direction of an approaching object or the accuracy of reaching movements or locomotion. Consequently, investigating how microgravity affects the egocenter is important for understanding the problems associated with long-term effects of microgravity on astronauts and how they re-adapt to the return of gravitational forces on Earth, the Moon, and on Mars.

During the three days of flight, six individuals were tested. The test subjects included personnel from CNES, INSERM, and Novespace in addition to Professors Clément and Bukley. The team measured the direction of gaze when free-floating subjects were pointing at targets along their perceived straight-ahead direction, or when making eye saccades along the spatial (aircraft) or body (egocentric) vertical in darkness. The subjects were tested in normal 1g, in 1.8g during the pull-up phase of the parabolic maneuvers, and in 0g. Data analysis is still in process, but preliminary results indicate a clear bias in the subjective straight-ahead when subjects went from 1g to 1.8g, and from 1.8g to 0g.

About the International Space University
The International Space University (ISU), founded in 1987 in Massachusetts, US and now headquartered in Strasbourg, France, is the world’s premier international space education institution. It is supported by major space agencies and aerospace organizations from around the world. The graduate level programs offered by ISU are dedicated to promoting international, interdisciplinary and intercultural cooperation in space activities. ISU offers the Master of Science in Space Studies and Master of Science in Space Management programs at its Central Campus in Strasbourg, as well as an Executive MBA and short courses for professionals. Since the summer of 1988, ISU also conducts the highly acclaimed nine-week Space Studies Program at different host institutions in locations spanning the globe. ISU programs are delivered by over 100 ISU faculty members in concert with invited industry and agency experts from institutions around the world.

For more information about ISU, visit www.isunet.edu.

# # #

Contact :
Géraldine MOSER
External Relations
International Space University
[email protected]
+33 (0)3 88 65 54 49


Posted in Partner News