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Facility Overview


Brief Facility Summary

European Physiology Module (EPM) is designed to investigate the effects of short- and long-duration space flight on the human body. It includes equipment for neuroscientific, cardiovascular, and physiological studies.

Facility Manager(s)

Rosario Nasca, European Space Research and Technology Research Centre, Noordwijk, Netherlands

Co-Facility Manager(s)

Information Pending

Facility Developer(s)

OHM Systems, Bremen, , Germany

Sponsoring Agency

European Space Agency (ESA)

Expeditions Assigned

16,17,18,19/20,21/22,29/30,31/32

Previous ISS Missions

Information Pending

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Facility Description

Facility Overview

• The European Physiology Module (EPM) enables a better understanding of the effects of space flight on the human body. Research typically includes neuroscientific, cardiovascular, and physiological studies and investigations of metabolic processes.



• The EPM performs physiological and biomedical tests and transmits the data to Earth for further analysis. The resulting data will provide insight into the human body's processes in a microgravity environment.



• The EPM provides equipment for the study of the human body, including three science modules: two active modules, CARDIOLAB and MEEMM, and one module (sample collection kit, or SCK) that includes equipment to enable collection of biological samples (blood, urine, and saliva).

Description

The facility will consist of separate modules in which investigators can install their hardware for study of the human body on the International Space Station (ISS). The Cardiolab (CDL) and the Multi Electrodes Encephalogram Measurement Module (MEEMM) will be initially launched with the EPM facility.

The European Physiology Module is a double-rack multi-user facility that supports investigations of respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, hormonal and body fluid shift, bone demineralization and neuroscience. The facility is based on a modular design concept to support diverse experiments. Human physiology experiments are aimed primarily at increasing our knowledge of how the human body reacts to long-duration weightlessness. However, this area of research also contributes to an increased understanding of terrestrial problems such as the aging process, osteoporosis, balance disorders, and muscle wasting. Typical research areas include:

• Neuroscience - Neurovestibular control of posture, balance, and motion sensory coordination

Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems - Control of blood volume and distribution; fluid volume shift
Bone and Muscle Physiology - Muscle deconditioning/atrophy
Endocrinology, Nutrition and Metabolism - Hormonal regulation; demineralization

To correctly evaluate the on-board data, it is essential that reference (or baseline) data are collected prior to flight and following the return of the crewmembers to Earth. For this reason, the EPM facility will provide a Baseline Data Collection Model (BDCM) system that includes functional copies of the on-board instruments. The BDCM will be readily transportable to ensure availability of the equipment for the preflight, launch and postflight activities.

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Operations

Facility Operations

The European Physiology Module can run up to three active human body experiments simultaneously. The experiment modules have individual temperature controls that are set per investigator specifications.

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Results/More Information

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Availability

Information Pending

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Results Publications

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Ground Based Results Publications

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ISS Patents

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Related Publications

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Related Websites

EPM Factsheet

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Imagery

Testing of one of the experiment modules for European Physiology Module (EPM). Image provided by O. Amend.
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NASA Image: ISS016E031846 - European Physiology Module (EPM) installed in the Columbus laboratory. Image taken during Expedition 16.
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NASA Image: ISS018E032095: The photo shows Human Research Facility (HRF) rack 2; the European Physiology Module (EPM) is visible. Three-dimensional modeling of International Space Station Interior and Exterior project. Taken for PhotoSynth
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