1. Microgravity and Working in Space

2. What is weightlessness?
What is gravity?
What is weightlessness?
So…..then what is
Microgravity?

3. Definitions:
Gravity is a force of attraction that exists between any two masses, any two bodies, or any two particles. It is the attraction that exits between all objects.
Weightlessness is a misconception, it does not exist, and it is a term used to describe what is referred to, or appears to be “floating.”
Micro-gravity is the attraction that one object has on another but to a lesser degree. Sometimes, this force is so small in one object that it appears to be canceled out by the force of the other object.

4. As presented by Sir Isaac Newton and modified by others, the “Law of Gravity” states that any two objects have attraction towards each other; the object that has the greater mass has the strongest attraction.

5. Since you know what gravity and microgravity are, how would you explain the difference between the weight of an object and the mass of an object?

6. The mass of an object remains constant and never changes no matter where its location. This means that the amount of particles it contains remains unchanged no matter where it is found.
The weight of an object is a variable depending on the amount of gravitational force placed upon it. Therefore, an object on the moon weighs less than an object on the Earth, because the Earth has a stronger gravitational force.

7. The environment of microgravity: Some disadvantages of being in microgravity
Lack of bone growth and formation
Un-even distribution of body fluids resulting in nausea and headaches
Slowing of blood circulation causing a decrease in heart size, because it does not have to work as hard to push your fluids throughout your body.
Distortion of normal homeostasis processes in organisms
Disorientation of plant growth

8. Some advantages of being in microgravity:
Used by pharmaceutical companies for “pure” crystal growth
Easier self-mobility
Less energy and force needed to work with heavier objects

9. Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory

15. Today you will experience some of the challenges of working in a microgravity environment. This will be accomplished by visiting 3-stations, each addressing a different scenario that an individual would have to overcome to live and work in a microgravity environment.