# @europeanspaceagency on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DH3o5kiMxgV
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/35582159-europeanspaceagency-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/d56e5233f3.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-03-31T15:50:00.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** J.L.Lopez (@xandler80) — https://gondola.cc/xandler80

## Caption

Would you spend 10 days on a waterbed for science? 🛌

What happens to the human body in space? To find out, 20 volunteers are taking part in Vivaldi III, a groundbreaking experiment in France. For 10 days, half of them/10 lay in special waterbeds, simulating the effects of weightlessness—helping scientists prepare astronauts for space missions!

Participants lay in bathtub-like containers lined with waterproof fabric. This keeps them dry but fully supported by water, creating a floating effect similar to microgravity. Their muscles, bones, and fluids react in some cases much like they would in space!
 
For 10 days, participants ate using floating boards, rested on neck pillows, and even took bathroom breaks while staying in a laid-back position. Scientists closely monitor their neurological, cardiovascular, and metabolic changes — just like researchers do with astronauts!

Another group spent 10 days in head-down bed rest, which mimics fluid shifts and muscle loss in space. Comparing both methods helps researchers refine countermeasures for astronauts before missions to the Moon and beyond.

Understanding these changes isn’t just for spaceflight! The results of Vivaldi III could improve treatments for bedridden patients, ageing-related conditions, and musculoskeletal disorders—bridging the gap between space and healthcare on Earth.

When Vivaldi III finishes on 10 April, scientists will start analysing the data, bringing us closer to solving the challenges of human spaceflight.

📸 MEDES/Prodigima

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 22,385
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- **Comments:** 184

## Credits

These are the roles credited on Gondola. Credits may be incomplete.
A brand, account owner, or featured person is not necessarily the creator.

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ESA - European Space Agency | @europeanspaceagency | https://gondola.cc/europeanspaceagency | Government Organization |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Producer |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Editor |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Social Media Manager |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Publisher |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Copywriter |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Community Manager |

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