Dream job or bullying? The guy lay for 70 days for 18 thousand dollars
And how would you react if you were offered to spend 70 days in complete isolation and get 18 thousand dollars for it (about 1.2 million in ruble equivalent)? Some would have thought about it, others flatly refused, and others would have tried to discuss the amount…
But a guy named Andrew Ivanicki decided that this was a good opportunity to make money. Whether his opinion changed after the experiment, you can find out below.
In August 2018, Andrew Ivanicki was unexpectedly fired from his job, so when the next day he was offered to take part in a NASA study and get $ 18,000 for it, it seemed to him a gift of fate. The guy applied for participation in the project a year earlier, not even hoping that his candidacy would be selected among the other 25 thousand. But miracles happen! Andrew decided that this was a great way not only to earn money, but also to put his life on pause, to have a little rest. Therefore, he accepted the invitation and went to Houston, Texas, to the base of the NASA Flight Analog scientific group, where the research was to take place.
Here he had to spend the next 70 days. But not everything is so simple! Throughout this period, Andrew had to be in a supine position. Thus, scientists have tried to track changes in the body that occur during prolonged stay in weightlessness.
For several days, the nurses took all kinds of tests from Andrew, gave injections and helped him get used to the new daily routine. The pre-bed phase lasted three weeks, after that the guy had only one thing left: to get into bed and stay there for the next 70 days.
The problems started from the very first days of the experiment. Andrew's spine ached badly, his bones ached, and he was tormented by insomnia. Forced to relieve himself in a horizontal position, the guy felt his helplessness and humiliation. It has become almost impossible to perform such daily tasks as taking a shower (in his case, hosing down), brushing teeth, reading books and working on a laptop.
This mask was put on Andrew during training to track how much air he consumes during the period of activity and rest
Andrew began to get used to his condition only a week later, and even managed to find his advantages in it:
The testing lasted 70 days. During this period, NASA specialists have fully studied the body's reaction to being in a supine position for a long time (which is similar to being in zero gravity), and the guy even managed to meet his soulmate. And this, according to him, was the most difficult test:
Nevertheless, this disappointment helped Andrew realize how important life outside the hospital is for him.
On December 2, 2018, Andrew got on his feet for the first time. Or rather, he tried to do it, because for such a long period his muscles were greatly weakened. The nurses explained that none of the patients could spend even 15 minutes on their feet immediately after the experiment was stopped. And Andrew was no exception — almost immediately he began to feel dizzy, and doctors hurried to return him to his previous state.
Finally, the guy managed to get out of bed without losing consciousness only two weeks later.
The man received the promised fee and is now thinking about taking part in another study. Now Ivanicki wants to volunteer in a 10-day trial of the flu vaccine. For this, all participants of the experiment are promised a reward of 2 thousand dollars.
And NASA is again looking for someone willing to "lie" in bed for 70 days. A girl this time.
Would you agree to take part in such a study? If "yes", then for what amount?
Keywords: NASA | Gravity | Isolation | Test | Research | Scientists | Experiment