Posted: Thu, Mar 11, 2004, 7:35 AM ET (1235 GMT)
Scientists said this week that despite advances in exercise techniques, astronauts on long-duration missions on the International Space Station are still suffering from considerable bone loss. The research, announced this week in conjunction with its publication in a biomedical journal, was based on the study of 14 Americans and Russians who spent from four to six months each on the ISS. The study concluded that bone loss in the ISS crewmembers took place at a comparable rate to what had been previously observed in those who made similar stays on the Russian space station Mir, despite advances in exercise equipment and techniques used on ISS. One difference the researchers did find was that bone loss was less pronounced among ISS crewmembers in portions of vertebrae, perhaps because of the use of a new resistive exercise device. Scientists are exploring the use of drugs to reduce the rate of bone loss in future long-duration missions.

Related Links:

•  Houston Chronicle article
•  Eurekalert press release
•  NASA press release