Space Radiation is one of the main health threat of spaceflight. It is dangerous because it has sufficient energy to break or kill DNA molecules, which can damage or kill a cell. which leads to severe health problems.
When American Astronaut Scott Kelly spent a year at the International Space Station in 2015 and 2016, his heart Shrank by 25% in Mass. according to a study published this year without the pull of gravity, The heart doesn't have to pump as hard.
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| International Space Station Image Credit: NASA |
Studies like these are being done as space opens up to more people Who will Journey deeper into the solar system. Space Travel is hard on the body for every month of flight, You lose about 1.5 percent of bone density According to NASA.
Bones don't have to support the Against Gravity, the farther you are from Earth, the weaker the gravitational force. for longer trips, Say going to Mars which takes about six months each way, that would mean losing roughly 10% of your total bone density, your weaker bones would be more prone to fractures after spending half a year in space.
Recovery Could take 3 to 4 years, the best way to build up bone mass is to do weight-bearing exercises in which your bones support your weight. like tennis basketball or jogging.
Running on a treadmill at the ISS is a little different as astronauts have to strap themselves in. despite the effort, you'll likely only be able to slow down the rate of bone loss not prevented altogether.
Artificial gravity could help, a proposed Worlds First private space hotel called Voyager is designed to spin slowly to mimic the effects of gravitational force. Besides losing bone density, Muscles can begin from lack of use and deteriorate.
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| Voyager Image Credit Orbital Assembly Co-opaeration |
Research from previous missions shows astronauts lose up to 20% of muscle mass on flights lasting less than two weeks. many astronauts also report back pain, as weakened muscles provide less support for the spine.
In order to combat muscle loss, a machine called an ARED imitates, weightlifting to work all the major muscle groups and decrease the recovery time later. though, again it doesn't get better right away once astronauts return to Earth. they're at a much higher risk of our herniated disc.
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| Astronaut workout on ARED Machine image Credit: NASA |
The lack of gravity is also problematic for the cardiovascular system since there's nothing to pull blood to the lower part of the body. Instead, It goes to the chest and head, causing astronauts to have Puffy faces in bulging blood vessels and their necks.
Canadian, Researchers have discovered that this chronic increase in blood pressure to the head and neck can result in stiffer arteries in which a six-month mission is similar to aging 10 to 20 years on Earth.
NASA requires aspiring astronauts to have a blood pressure reading of no more than 140/90 measured in a sitting position. they'll also have to pass physical tests in a swimming pool the best place to simulate the feeling of weightlessness in space.
Candidates have to In three laps of a 25-meter pool non-stop which doesn't sound that difficult. but then they have to repeat it this time wearing a Blue flight suit and tennis shoes and then tread water for 10 minutes. however, being physically fit will protect against the very serious threat of radiation.
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| Earth Magnetic field image Credit: NASA |
We're protected from some of the most dangerous rays and particles because of Earth's magnetic field. but beyond low earth orbit is a world teeming with radiation which is measured using millisievert. 1 Millisievert is the equivalent of about 3 chest x-rays.
A six-month trip to the ISS or the moon exposes astronauts to doses, Ranging from 50 to 2000 millisieverts. that would be like having a 150 to 6,000 chest x-rays. and it's ionizing radiation It can destroy our cells and damaged DNA, increasing the risk of cancer and degenerative diseases. Protecting against radiation on the moon or Mars means building habitats with reliable shielding. but in transit, you're only protected by what's around you.
How can we Protect against Radiation in Space ?
Shielding Method
A strategy tested by Out to space radiation Specialists, involves crew members barricading themselves with stowage bags.
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| Stowage Bag Technique image Credit: NASA |
Other techniques being developed include wearable vests that add another layer of mass and electrically charged surfaces that can deflect these dangerous particles. exposure to radiation experienced by Scott Kelly is believed to have activated certain genes known to encode proteins that help fix damaged DNA.
Researchers, gleaned all of this information by comparing Scott to his identical twin Mark, also an astronaut, who remained on Earth as a control subject. the stresses of being an orbit appear to have altered Scott's immune system, worsened his eyesight and oddly lengthened the caps at the ends of his DNA strands called telomeres.
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| DNA Strand with Telomeres image credit: artists impression |
These protects chromosomes, kind of like how plastic handles protected jump ropes. Usually, they shortened as we age. the strange lengthening disappeared a few days after he return to Earth. However, 7% of its gene expression, still remained altered six months later.
More Research is now being done to study the lasting impact of space travel on our bodies. Not to mention there are behavioral effects of being restricted to a spacecraft for a long period of time. to make astronauts feel a little less isolated, they got internet access on the ISS a decade ago, being able to go online and access websites is a crucial way of communicating these days.
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