Analog and simulated microgravity platforms for life sciences research: Their individual capacities, benefits and limitations

Gravity is always present on Earth. However, the influence of gravity can be modified or compensated. Generally, the products cre-ated under microgravity have important properties that usually surpasses the best terrestrial counterparts. Commercially, these products have striking features that aids marketing. Fast responding microgravity platforms can be used for short-term experiments, where the reactions or observations takes less time. This can be provided in drop towers, parabolic flights and sounding rockets. To study long-term effects of microgravity, human tended space laboratories have been used, such as the International Space Station. Scientists have developed various kinds of ground-based facilities and equipment for some of them to achieve the condition of functional weight-lessness as a result of limited access to space laboratories. Slow responding microgravity platforms can be used for long-term experi-ments, where the reactions or observations takes more time. Microgravity analog, model or simulations are slow responding platforms and are able to provide long-term effects of microgravity. This includes long-duration bedrests, water immersions and in mag-netic levitation, clinostats, random positioning machines, rotating wall vessels and even centrifuges. This study compares and gives an overview of currently known real, analog, model or simulated microgravity environments and platforms, and demonstrates their indi-vidual capacities, benefits and limitations.(c) 2022 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Gravity on Earth can be modified or compensated using microgravity platforms. Products created under microgravity often have superior properties compared to their terrestrial counterparts, making them attractive for marketing. Different types of platforms, such as drop towers and space laboratories, are used for short-term and long-term experiments to study the effects of microgravity.