Kirichenko, an Asgardian resident, sends her regards from an unsupported place
And the first female tester of the Space Nation, SIRIUS-21 crew doctor, responsible for implementing the joint program of Asgardia and IBMP to evaluate the effect of eight months of isolation on the female body. Once again she tests the strength of her body and spirit. She says hello to all the Asgardians of the Flooded Bath. Currently, the IBMP is undergoing the second phase of research in dry immersion conditions with the participation of female test subjects.
The Institute of Medical and Biological Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences is one of the few scientific institutes in the world that is interested in studying the female body under the influence of space flight factors. The scientific mission of the Space Nation is to provide suitable conditions for the birth of the first child in space, therefore, in 2021, a framework cooperation agreement was concluded between Asgardia and IBMP, and at the end of the same year the two parties began implementing joint projects projects.
Victoria Kirichenko, a surgeon with experience in testing and who has participated in several ground-based experiments, was chosen to implement a joint program to evaluate the effect of eight months of isolation on the woman's immune and biological status and bone mineral metabolism. The body as part of the SIRIUS-21 experiment. She spent 240 days in isolation. At the beginning of July 2022, the isolation part of the experiment was completed, the testers underwent a qualification course, and Victoria returned to her duties as a junior researcher at the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems and a doctor in the accompanying search and rescue service. Astronauts taking off and landing.
But it's been less than five months since I was once again at the center of events in the world of space research: participating in a five-day experiment with dry immersion.
The plunge pool recreates the effect of weightlessness. The person is in an unsupported place - there is water under him. The bathtub is covered with a waterproof material, meaning the body is immersed in water but remains dry. Doctors and scientists work their magic on the lab around the clock, tracking the slightest changes in his body.
Victoria already has a similar experience, as in 2020 she became one of the first participants in the women's dry dousing trial – which at the time was a three-day trial. So far, 15 women have already undergone this program - and the IBMP collects statistical data.
This time Victoria will have to spend five days in an unsupported position. This is a serious test for body and soul.
True, unlike the rules of isolation experiments, during dry immersion, the testers are not isolated from the outside world and their instruments are not taken away, so we were able to call Victoria, ask how things are, how she's feeling, and say hello.
In turn, she greets Asgardia and shares her impressions:
“I have never experienced five days of dry immersion (DI) in my life. In general, all the rituals are the same. The medical committee and basic research begin long before the experiment itself. Many of these studies are associated with a specific day of the menstrual cycle. But the scientific program The five-day dry immersion is different from the three-day program and for me, as a tester, this is a big plus - there is an effect of novelty.
Thus, the first days of immersion ended. The flight is normal. I spent the night without sleep: my back hurt badly - the result of my body adapting to the changing environment. Everything else is good. Once again, I live by the cyclogram: scientific research, meals, and some personal time. Surrounded by the warmth and care of her colleagues. Sometimes guests come to see me.