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Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Ex Vivo Assessment of Contractility, Fatigability and Alternans in Isolated Skeletal Muscles
Published on: November 1, 2012
[WORK-REST CYCLE OF COSMONAUTS IN MISSIONS 22/23-39/40 OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION]
Abstract:
Analyzed were the results of in-flight monitoring of the work-rest cycle (WRC) of Russian crewmembers during 17 instances of the International space station crew rotation in the period of 2010-2014. Weakly crew health reports of the MCC-M medical group were reviewed as well as documented overworks, sleep shifts and consequent health complaints as testimonies of WRC intensity level. Hard work schedule characterized 69% of the flight weeks. The contributing factors were extravehicular activities, dock and undock operations with transport vehicles and redock operations with orbital modules, joint work with space shuttle crews, preparations for landing, off-nominal events, cargo transfer, procedures from the Task List and requested by the MCC-M. Facts stated by the analysis give grounds to believe that distribution of equally extra and planned works over days and weeks in 2013-2014 was more uniform as compared with 2010-2012. This seems to somewhat obviate "critical" workload levels on the days of particularly important operations.
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