House is difficult on the human physique.
When NASA astronaut Frank Rubio lands again on Earth as we speak (watch the livestream here), he’ll have accomplished a mission spanning 157 million miles (253 million km) and practically 6,000 orbits of Earth. He’ll have spent 371 consecutive days in space, a brand new world file for an American. In the meantime, we’ve identified for many years now that space is difficult on the human physique. Rachael Seidler of the University of Florida explains extra beneath. Edits by EarthSky.
With NASA and different federal space businesses planning extra manned missions and business corporations bringing folks to space, alternatives for human space journey are quickly increasing.
Nonetheless, touring to space poses dangers to the human physique. Since NASA desires to ship a manned mission to Mars within the 2030s, scientists want to search out options for these hazards sooner reasonably than later.
As a kinesiologist (kinesiology is the examine of human motion) who works with astronauts, I’ve spent years studying the effects space can have on the physique and mind. I’m additionally concerned in a NASA mission that goals to mitigate the health hazards that contributors of a future mission to Mars may face.
House radiation and the human physique
The Earth has a protecting defend referred to as a magnetosphere. It’s the realm of space round a planet that’s managed by its magnetic field. This defend filters out cosmic radiation. Nonetheless, astronauts touring farther than the Worldwide House Station will face steady publicity to this radiation, the equal to between 150 and 6,000 chest X-rays.
This radiation can hurt the nervous and cardiovascular systems, together with coronary heart and arteries, resulting in heart problems. As well as, it will possibly make the blood-brain barrier leak. This could expose the mind to chemical compounds and proteins which are dangerous to it … compounds which are protected within the blood however poisonous to the mind.
This video explains the blood-brain barrier and the way it retains compounds flowing via your circulatory system out of your mind.
NASA is growing expertise that may defend vacationers from radiation on a Mars mission. It’s constructing deflecting supplies equivalent to kevlar and polyethylene into space vehicles and spacesuits. Sure diets and dietary supplements equivalent to enterade may additionally reduce the results of radiation. Dietary supplements like this, additionally utilized in most cancers sufferers on Earth throughout radiation remedy, can alleviate gastrointestinal unwanted effects of radiation publicity.
Gravitational modifications and the human physique
Astronauts should train in space to attenuate the muscle loss they’ll face after a protracted mission. Missions that go so far as Mars should be certain that astronauts have supplements equivalent to bisphosphonate. This drugs prevents bone breakdown in osteoporosis (a desease that causes bones to develop into weak and brittle). These dietary supplements ought to preserve their muscle tissue and bones in good situation over lengthy intervals of time spent with out the effects of Earth’s gravity.
Microgravity additionally impacts the nervous and circulatory techniques. On Earth, your coronary heart pumps blood upward, and specialised valves in your circulatory system preserve bodily fluids from pooling at your toes. Within the absence of gravity, fluids shift towards the top.
My work and that of others has proven that this leads to an enlargement of fluid-filled areas in the course of the mind. Having additional fluid within the cranium and no gravity to “maintain the mind down” causes the mind to sit down higher in the skull. On this place, the within of the cranium compresses the highest of the mind.
Counteracting the fluid shift
These fluid shifts could contribute to spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome. It’s a situation many astronauts expertise that impacts the structure and function of the eyes. The again of the attention can develop into flattened, and the nerves that carry visible info from the attention to the mind swell and bend. Astronauts can nonetheless see, although visible operate could worsen for some. Although it hasn’t been nicely studied but, case research counsel this situation could persist even a couple of years after returning to Earth.
Scientists might be able to shift the fluids again towards the decrease physique utilizing specialized pants that pull fluids again down towards the decrease physique like a vacuum. These pants might be used to redistribute the physique’s fluids in a approach that’s extra just like what happens on Earth.
Psychological well being and isolation
Whereas space journey can injury the physique, the isolating nature of space journey also can have profound effects on the thoughts.
Think about having to dwell and work with the identical small group of individuals, with out having the ability to see your loved ones or mates, for months on finish. To study to handle excessive environments and keep communication and management dynamics, astronauts first bear crew coaching on Earth.
They spend weeks in both NASA’s Extreme Environment Mission Operations on the Aquarius Research Station, discovered underwater off the Florida Keys, or mapping and exploring caves with the European House Company’s CAVES program. These packages assist astronauts construct camaraderie with their teammates and learn to handle stress and loneliness in a hostile, faraway atmosphere.
Researchers are finding out the way to finest monitor and assist behavioral mental health underneath these excessive and isolating circumstances.
The optimistic results of space journey
Whereas space journey comes with stressors and the potential for loneliness, astronauts describe experiencing an overview effect: a way of awe and connectedness with all humankind. This usually occurs when viewing Earth from the Worldwide House Station.
Studying the way to assist human well being and physiology in space additionally has quite a few benefits for life on Earth. For instance, merchandise that defend astronauts from space radiation and counter its dangerous results on our physique also can deal with most cancers sufferers receiving radiation therapies.
Understanding the way to shield our bones and muscle tissue in microgravity might enhance how medical doctors deal with the frailty that usually accompanies getting old. And space exploration has led to many technological achievements advancing water purification and satellite systems.
Researchers like me who examine methods to protect astronaut well being count on our work will profit folks each in space and right here at residence. 
Rachael Seidler, Professor of Utilized Physiology & Kinesiology, University of Florida
This text is republished from The Conversation underneath a Artistic Commons license. Learn the original article.
Backside line: House is difficult on the human physique and in addition takes a toll on the thoughts. Scientists are working to search out methods to enhance the lives and well being of astronauts in space and again at residence.
Read more: Astronauts’ brains need a 3-year break after long missions
