Russian cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station conducted the "Splanchn" medical experiment, which helps to understand how prolonged stay in space affects the human digestive system.
In orbit, the crew records the state of the gastrointestinal tract and conducts examinations, including using an ultrasound machine. The data obtained is transmitted to Earth, where specialists compare it with the indicators of the cosmonauts before the flight and after returning.
The interest in such studies is not accidental: in weightlessness, the usual functioning of the body changes. Fluids are redistributed, internal organs experience a different load, and digestive processes may proceed differently than on Earth.
Scientists hope that the results of the experiment will help to better understand how the body adapts to long-term space flights. This data will become an important part of the preparation for future missions — from long-term expeditions in orbit to flights to the Moon and Mars.