Imedos is currently on another exciting mission: together with scientists from the University of Düsseldorf, we are once again investigating the behavior of the microvessels of the eye in weightlessness.
After the successful first parabolic flight campaign in Paderborn in 2021, we are again on board the A310 Zero G of the French company Novespace in Bordeaux. As a result of the flights two years ago, during which examinations of the retinal vessels during free fall were carried out for the first time worldwide, it was possible to prove that the micro-blood vessels of the retina react to weightlessness. The investigations will be continued and expanded this year. The aim is to repeat the detection and obtain new additional data.
During the flights, which last about 3-4 h, a total of 31 parabolas of 3 min each are performed. The team is first exposed to 1.8 times the acceleration due to gravity for about 20 seconds. This is followed by 22 seconds of free fall, during which there is practically weightlessness. The greatest challenge is certainly the fact that very large forces act on the bodies of the investigators and the test subjects during these flight phases, while the examination requires that the eye is held in position in front of the optics of the measuring device with millimeter precision. An additional complicating factor is the fact that both test subjects and, above all, the examiners can feel really sick from the changing phases of the flight. Sometimes the only thing that helps is to reach for the bag and then we have to continue immediately, because the opportunity to carry out such examinations is extremely rare. That’s why everyone in the team is highly motivated and fighting to successfully complete the scientific experiments.
The technical preparations have now been completed and the camera system has been brought on board. and already tested. The safety of everyone involved is of course our top priority. Together with Novespace, we ensure compliance with all relevant parameters and procedures.
More information about the parabolic flights can be found here: https://www.airzerog.com/scientific-flight-campaigns/
