Educational Brief
The Effects of Space Flight on the
Human Vestibular System
How does the human body maintain a sense of body position and balance on Earth, while flying in an airplane, or traveling through space?
Introduction
The presence of sensory and response systems is a universal attribute of life as we know it. All living organisms on Earth have the ability to sense and respond appropriately to changes in their internal and external environment. Organisms, including humans, must sense accurately before they can react, thus ensuring survival. If our senses are not providing us with reliable information, we may take an action which is inappropriate for the circumstances and this could lead to injury or death.
Above: Mealtime for the STS-45 crew. Up and down are a matter of personal perspective.
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