The European Space Agency (ESA) is offering €5,000 (₹4.72 lakh) to volunteers willing to lie down for 10 days as part of a groundbreaking spaceflight study. Conducted at the Medes space clinic in Toulouse, France, the Vivaldi III experiment aims to replicate the effects of space travel on the human body using a unique “dry immersion” technique.
Participants lie in water-filled tubs covered with waterproof fabric, creating a floating sensation similar to what astronauts experience aboard the International Space Station. The strict protocol ensures volunteers remain in a laid-back position, even during bathroom breaks and meals.
ESA’s study seeks to refine its understanding of space-induced physiological changes and develop countermeasures for astronaut health. Alongside this, a separate bed-rest study involving 10 male participants is also underway.
Only men aged 20-40, measuring between 1.65m and 1.80m with a BMI of 20-26, were eligible for the experiment. Volunteers undergo five days of post-study recovery and a follow-up after 10 days.