Record-breaking head-down bedrest study completed in China

"The experiment helps research on medical problems in spaceflight, such as cardiovascular dysfunction, bone loss, muscular atrophy and endocrine dyscrasia. With the collected data, we can assess the effectiveness of the health protection measures for the astronauts," Li added.

The duration for astronauts living and working in space would extend up to 180 days, as China will soon start its manned space station plan in 2020. The long-term bedrest experiment this time also is one of the efforts that pave the way for Chinese astronauts' long stay in the space.