NASA may have taken a hit when manned missions were dramatically reduced under the Obama administration but the agency is bouncing back, sending out a recruitment call to bolster its ranks. All aspiring astronauts, however, have to take note of one thing: going to space can make you sick.
This isn't exactly surprising given living conditions here are significantly different from what astronauts have to deal with in space. NASA understands this very well, which is why it launched an audit called NASA's Efforts to Manage Health and Human Performance Risks for Space Exploration. The results of the audit don't inspire confidence but the agency is optimistic that will be able to resolve the issues reported by 2030 as it is making progress in addressing concerns about medical and food supplies and adverse health risks associated with long-term stays in space.
According to the audit, individuals in space undergo a range of physiological changes that not only affect the ability of an astronaut to perform functions necessary to the mission but can also bring about increased risks of developing cancer, reducing bone strength, damaging vision and other negative effects to their well-being in the long-term, like renal stone formation, reduced aerobic capacity, urinary retention, space adaptation back pain, altered immune response, sleep loss, hearing loss and decompression sickness.
It also identified[pdf] hazards associated with deep-space exploration as: limited resources, isolation closed or isolated environment spacecraft design, altered gravity and space radiation.
Another study reported that the brain undergoes major changes to reorganize itself to help it adapt to the challenges of space flight. However, changes to the brain structure take a serious toll on an astronaut's ability to think, making it more difficult for them to complete mental and physical tasks during and after their time on the International Space Station.
The longest that an individual stayed in space was 14 months, a record held by cosmonaut Valeri Polakov. No American had gone beyond seven months at a time until Scott Kelly. When the astronaut returns from his year-long stay at the ISS, he will be thoroughly analyzed by NASA to determine the effects of long-term missions on human health. Mark Kelly, Scott's twin brother, is also participating in the effort by acting as the control subject here on earth.
Photo: Cyril Rana | Flickr
