Astronomy Wonder project

“It is human nature to stretch, to go, to see, to understand. Exploration is not a choice really; it’s an imperative” (Michael Collins) Since the beginning of space exploration we, as mankind, have wanted to go further and explore more of what is out there in space. To explore galaxies, planets, and more. During this time, we have also faced many challenges that now help make the lives of astronauts easier and safer. Though we have faced many challenges in the development of space travel, one challenge still stays the effects of space on an astronaut’s health. Much research has been done by both NASA and the Canadian space agency on the effects of space and how we can prevent both physical and mental health risks in astronauts who travel to space. This is why I wonder, how does space travel positively and negatively affect the health of astronauts and what can we do to lower the health risks?

During space travel, many factors can positively or negatively affect astronauts’ health. Some negative factors include radiation from space, gravity fields, and close environments. The first factor that affects astronauts’ health is the radiation in space. On earth, we are protected from the harm of radiation through our atmosphere. Unlike on earth, space has no atmosphere to protect astronauts that are on missions from the high level of radiation in space. Due to radiation exposure, astronauts have been found to have cancer, radiation sickness, and heart diseases. One way that we protect astronauts from radiation is by using shields and monitoring astronauts for radiation in them. Currently, NASA is developing a new way to monitor radiation in astronauts more effectively. The second factor that affects the health of astronauts is gravity fields. During missions such as the mission to mars, astronauts will have to go through three different gravity fields, these being weightlessness before reaching mars, the gravity of mars, and earths normal gravity upon return. Though traveling through different gravity fields may seem harmless, “It affects spatial orientation, head-eye and hand-eye coordination, balance, and locomotion, with some crew members experiencing space motion sickness”(Kelli). The most affected part of the body during this time is your bones.  Due to the lack of gravity that there is in space, astronauts suffer minor or major health risks, such as bone loss. Per month, the average amount of bone density that astronauts lose is approximately 1% – 2%. Though this may seem like a very major health risk, it is only a minor consequence of space travel. To help slow down the process of bone loss, astronauts are instructed to do weight-bearing exercises. On earth, some examples of weight-bearing exercises are walking, going on jogs, and playing sports. Due to the lack of gravity, astronauts strap themselves to treadmills, to create the weight-bearing environment needed to help stay healthy. The last factor that affects their health is the close environment they need to stay in. Due to the close confinements that astronauts stay in on missions, they are at more of a risk to get illnesses or diseases from each other. This can prevent astronauts from getting essential work done. To prevent others from getting sick the air quality is checked, the air filters are changed, clean up surfaces of bacteria, and are advised to get flu shots. Though many negative health risks emerge from space travel, one factor positively affects them. During space travel, scientists have performed studies on astronauts before and after space travel and found that it helps with their mental health. Scientists found that before travel astronauts had high levels of stress, but later because of their environment were forced to adapt and were not stressed. Though many factors negatively affect the health of astronauts some effects can help their health.

              After researching and compiling information, I have found a conclusion to my inquiry question. Though space travel creates many negative health risks for astronauts such as radiation sickness, getting ill, and losing bone density, from this information we can learn more about space and how we can improve conditions for future astronauts to keep them safe. As technology advances, we can create safer means for astronauts to explore safely and helps us learn more about the galaxy around us.

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Sources:

• Mars, Kelli. “What Happens to the Human Body in Space?” NASA, 14 Nov. 2022, nasa.gov/hrp/bodyinspace.
• “What Happens to Bones in Space?” Canadian Space Agency, 18 Aug. 2006, asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/space-medicine/bones.asp.
• Inc, MadgeTech. Astronauts in Space Infographic. 2 Sept. 2016, slideshare.net/MadgeTechInc/astronauts-in-space-infographic.
• Turner, David. “How Space Travel Affects Astronaut Mental Health.” Headspace, 2019, https://cmsw.mit.edu/angles/2019/headspace-how-space-travel-affects-astronaut-mental-health/ Accessed 1 Apr. 2023.
• “Astronauts Experience These Key Changes in Space That Could Impact Their Health, New Research Shows.” CNN, 25 Nov. 2020, cnn.com/2020/11/25/health/biology-of-spaceflight-studies-wellness-scn-trnd/index.html. Accessed 1 Apr. 2023.