This well illustrated, non-technical book focuses on astronauts' descriptions of the human aspects of space exploration, and their attempts to solve both mechanical and interpersonal problems. Based on interviews granted to the author by three astronauts, the book describes the experiments they undertook during the Apollo/Soyuz and Shuttle-Mir programs and the lessons learned from these missions. This book provides unique insight as to how adversity and challenges are overcome in the process of exploration.

This document represents a summary of medical and scientific evaluations conducted on board the Zero G and other NASA sponsored aircraft from June 2011 to June 2012. A general overview of investigations manifested and coordinated by the Human Adaptation and Countermeasures Division is included. A collection of brief reports that describe tests conducted on board the NASA sponsored aircraft follows the overview. Principal investigators and test engineers contributed significantly to the content of the report describing their particular experiment or hardware evaluation. Although this document follows general guidelines, each report format may vary to accommodate differences in experiment design and procedures. This document concludes with an appendix that provides background information concerning the Reduced Gravity Program. Overview of Reduced Gravity Flight Activities * Gravitational Modulation of Calcium Signaling in Bone * Plant Viability for a NanoRack Food Growth Chamber * Water Purification and Ion Removal Through Low Pressure Distillation * Effect of Microgravity on Spinal Expansion * Hydrofuge Alpha and Bravo Plant Chambers * Aquaponics * Frying an Egg in Space

The book introduces readers to the concept of weightlessness and microgravity, and presents several examples of microgravity research in fluid physics, the material sciences and human physiology. Further, it explains a range of basic physical concepts (inertia, reference frames, mass and weight, accelerations, gravitation and weightiness, free fall, trajectories, and platforms for microgravity research) in simple terms. The last section addresses the physiological effects of weightlessness. The book’s simple didactic approach makes it easy to read: equations are kept to a minimum, while examples and applications are presented in the appendices. Simple sketches and photos from actual space missions illustrate the main content. This book allows readers to understand the space environment that astronauts experience on board space stations, and to more closely follow on-going and future space missions in Earth orbit and to Mars.