Hypergravity studies in the Netherlands.

It looks like that with the utilization phase of the International Space Station (ISS) scientists will have the possibility to perform long duration and more sophisticated microgravity experiments than could be performed previously. In preparation for these spaceflight studies, ground based experiment tools for simulated (or real) microgravity and hypergravity are important. To provide the infrastructure and user support necessary to perform these ground based studies we have setup the Dutch Experiment Support Center, DESC. This paper will focus on the three Dutch centrifuge facilities. It is shown that these hypergravity facilities can be used to show sounding rocket launch effects, identify alterations in body mass, bone parameters and matrix composition in rodents as well as to derive a test protocol for the Space Adaptation Syndrome in humans. DESC coordinates the use of these centrifuge facilities.