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PHOTO Felix & Paul Studios
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
Life in space can also cause longer-term health issues, such as a reduction in red blood cells, which affects the immune system. Astronauts also suffer from weight loss—and flatulence! In very cramped living quarters, that can lead to some rather awkward situations. Muscular atrophy (wasting away) and bone decalcification can also occur. To fight against these adverse effects, the astronauts at the ISS have to do at least two hours of physical exercise every day. They have access to a treadmill, a stationary bike and a weightlifting machine to help them stay in shape.
IMPROVING THE LIFE OF HUMANS ON EARTH Studying the health problems of astronauts in space will help us understand the impact of long stays in space on human beings. That is essential if we one day want to explore other planets or planetary systems. Yet these studies will also have benefits on human life in the short term. Living in space is equivalent to accelerated aging. Understanding its effects on the human body and learning how to overcome them will help improve the lives of people on Earth. ⊗
WELCOME TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION • BY MARION SPÉE
Who has never dreamed of discovering the wonders and joys, but also the dangers, of life on board the International Space Station? Thanks to the film Space Explorers: The ISS E xperience, made by the Montréal Studio Felix & Paul, in cooperation with Time magazine and NASA, this dream is going to become possible, provided you keep your two feet well planted on the ground. But to be able to provide a realistic idea of what life in weightlessness is like, some monumental challenges had to be overcome. First, approval had to be obtained from the managers of the space agencies of all the astronauts involved. Way up there above the Earth, the temporary residents of the
International Space Station—including Canada’s David Saint-Jacques—have had to follow, to the letter, the instructions of the studio filmmakers on how to handle the 360 degree camera equipment sent up specially to the ISS. The astronauts have had to wear many hats: actor, director of photography, sound technician and even co-director. And to direct the filming from Earth, far from the shoot location, the filmmakers had to send their instructions first to NASA, which then transmitted them to the astronauts. Some 200 hours of recorded footage later, it has become the biggest media project ever shot in space. An absolutely breathtaking experience! Have a great trip!
