New Bedrest Study Footage: Virtual Astronomical Observatory/ESA TV Footage – 12-12-2001

The next transmission of the ESA TV Service will be:

12-Dec-01 11:00 – 12:00 GMT

New Bedrest Study Footage — Virtual Astronomical Observatory

ESA TV Footage

Background information on the transmission:

The last ESA TV Footage feed in 2002 will comprise the following 2 items:

1) Virtual Astronomical Observatory

11:00-11:15 GMT

The Astrophysical Virtual Observatory AVO is an initiative to provide astronomers with breathtaking potential for new discoveries. It will enable them to seamlessly combine data from ground- and space-based telescopes making observations possible across the whole range of wavelengths – from high-energy gamma rays through ultraviolet and visible to the infrared and radio spectrum. This 13-minute background video on the AVO was produced by the Hubble European Space Agency Information Centre located at ESO in Garching near Munich.

2) New Bed Rest Footage

11:20-11:55 GMT

This transmission includes the first 31 minutes of video images from the 2001 Bed rest study. These images are released as background footage for the ESA/CNES press conference to be held 17 December in Toulouse, and they are strictly embargoed until 17 December, 00:00 hours GMT.

Since late August, 14 volunteers were confined to bed for 90 days, lying in a -6° head-down tilt position, simulating the effects of weightlessness on their bodies.

Extended weightlessness weakens bones and muscles in particular and during the “bedrest” study at the MEDES space clinic in Toulouse (France), scientists were able to collect a wealth of data on this phenomenon, which they will refine with a second group of subjects next year. The first group will resume their ordinary lives just before Christmas.

These ESA-CNES produced video images show the daily live of some of the bed rest study subjects, including scenes of the decisive moment of “leaving the bed” after 90 days.

More background information can be found on .

Transmission details:Eutelsat W1, 10 degrees East

Transponder B5, channel 2 (digital, horizontal)

F=11.14375 MHz, SR=5.632 MS/sec, FEC=3/4

MPEG-2 (4:2:0)

MCR: Tel +31 71 565 6322, Fax +31 71 565 6340

PID-codes (Hex): audio 24, video 21, text 0, PCR 21

For further information, visit our website at http://television.esa.int. For other enquires, contact Claus Habfast, Tel +31 71 565 3838, Fax +31 71 565 6340, e-mail claus.habfast@esa.int.