[Medical studies concerning the program of long-term manned space flights on "Saliut-7"-"Soiuz-T" orbital complex]

During 1982-1986 the orbital complex Salyut-7--Soyuz-T was visited by six long-term (from 65 to 237 days) principal crews and five short-term (from 8 to 12 days) visiting crews. Many medical investigations were performed during those missions, especially during the longest 237-day flight in which a physician-cosmonaut took part. The objective of the investigations was to accumulate new data and complementary information about physiological responses to microgravity. The methods and procedures used were in part the techniques, which were employed in previous missions but modified to meet specific requirements, and in part new techniques such as echocardiography for cardiovascular measurements, various loading tests, sensory tests, and blood and urine biochemistry.