Experiment VSV forms part of the scientific research program performed by Italian Astronaut Roberto Vittori (ESA) on the Russian Segment of the ISS in the frame of ENEIDE ISM Project. The European Space Agency is a customer of the preparation and implementation of the research program.

USED SCIENCE HARDWARE:

Container for VSV consisting of

• Subjective Vertical Analyzer (SVA) for VSV
• VSV fixing system
• VSV Memory card

SERVICE SYSTEMS USED:

• Chibis Lower Body Negative Pressure Device
• GAMMA-1M equipment

SUPPORT FACILITIES:

• Camera Nikon D1X.

PURPOSE:

Analyze the visceral receptors contribution to the detection of the subjective sense of vertical (which we will consider as corresponding to the astronaut’s body z-axis under microgravity conditions) within an environment which rules out possible bias due to visual and gravito-inertial forces.

OBJECTIVE:

Assess the contribution of visceral receptors to the sense of subjective vertical.

EXPERIMENT RESULTS:

• Downlinked telemetry information
• Data documented in the Appendix to the crew procedures.
• Digital photos on the memory card.