The Effects Of Spaceflight On The Human Body - 1202 Words

Space Exploration: What Are the Effects of Spaceflight on the Human Body? The accomplishment of space travel on 12 April 1961 marked the dawn of a new space era. Since then, humans have advanced in technology and acquired immense knowledge through space exploration. We watch video clips of astronauts enjoying a gravity-free environment, however, there are challenges in space, the greatest threat being the lack of oxygen and pressure. Furthermore, spaceflight has a significant impact on the human body. Moreover, extreme variations in temperature and intense radiation from sunlight increase the chance of cancer. Significant adverse effects of long-term weightlessness are muscle atrophy (degeneration of cells) and deterioration of the skeleton (Kansas and Manzey 15). Weightlessness is also known to â€Å"cause the ‘moon-face’ appearance typical in pictures of astronauts† (Akiyama 22). Health risks also include cardiovascular system malfunction, balance disorders, eyesight disorders and motion sickness. Moreover, studies show that the crew members experience psychological effects as well, due to stress coupled with the body adapting environmental changes. However, the future prospects of space exploration require humans to endure for longer periods in space. These factors have paved the way for ‘space medicine’ that studies and improve the health of astronauts living in outer space. I will consider the studies on the effects of spaceflight on the human body and attempt to determineShow MoreRelatedAlexander Grant : The Longest Continuous Human Spaceflight966 Words   |  4 Pagesthe longest continuous human spaceflight. The current (2016) record holder for the longest continuous spaceflight is Valeri Polyakov at 438 days, or 14 months [1]. The purpose of this mission was to test the effect of micro-gravity environments similar to those on a journey to mars. Upon Polyakov’s return, his physical and overall mental condition were deemed stable. Due to acclimation times, it was plausible that a 3 year mission to mars would have no hazardous mental effects upon crew [2]. PsychologicalRead MoreThe Physiological And Psychological Effects Of Interplanetary Colonization1392 Words   |  6 PagesThe Physiological and Psychological Effects of Interplanetary Colonization Above 45,000 feet the atmosphere gets rugged, damaged, and begins to grow deeper and darker in color. This occurs because of the decrease in amount of nitrogen and oxygen molecules that are used to populate the air. This alone has tremendous effects on the human body, not just physically, but mentally. In the 1950’s, a major concern of those involved with space research and travel was a psychological problem, called the â€Å"Break-OffRead MoreThe National Aeronautics And Space Administration Essay1666 Words   |  7 PagesNASA has taken many giant leaps in spaceflight since Neil Armstrong first stepped on the moon: The International Space Station was built, multiple rovers were sent to Mars, a spacecraft has landed on an asteroid, and we even have pictures of Pluto for the first time. NASA has accomplished some incredible projects that have inspired many and benefited the entire world with the research it has found. Unfortunately, it has recently encountered some setbacks t hat make it nearly impossible for the administrationRead MoreEssay on Human Factors in Long-Duration Spaceflight1162 Words   |  5 Pagesnumerous human factors challenges can complicate, and even ruin the entire mission. This paper will identify human factors challenges the crew will face, describe why they are so dangerous, and finally, identify ways to mitigate these challenges. The first challenge in a long-duration spaceflight is almost immediately apparent after lift-off, leaving the gravitational pull of Earth, and entering a micro gravity environment. Weightlessness can have several different impacts on the human body. AstronautsRead MoreThe Accomplishment Of Space Travel1923 Words   |  8 Pagesspace era. Since then, humans have advanced in technology and knowledge through space exploration. However, although we watch video clips of astronauts enjoying a gravity-free environment, there are challenges in space, the greatest threat being the lack of oxygen and pressure. Furthermore, spaceflight has a significant impact on the human body as extreme variations in temperature and intense radiation from sunlight increase the chance of cancer. Significant adverse effects of long-term weightlessnessRead MoreLong Term Space Travel And Its Effects On The Human Body1427 Words   |  6 PagesLong-term Space Travel and its Effects on the Human Body Synopsis: Humans are planning more space missions to Mars and deeper into the solar system. These manned missions require longer periods of time in space than any human has ever spent, as well as traveling farther from Earth’s protection than ever before. There has been very little research conducted regarding the effects of prolonged space travel on the human body. This paper examines how space travel will likely alter bodily functions. TheRead MoreThe Problem Of Instant Space Travel1437 Words   |  6 Pagesbut the solutions aren’t as far as one might think. With the current limitations of our technology and the overall price of spaceflight, our space program is unable to go as far as we could. The current price is far too high for reasonable space travel, but, how much does a trip to, let s say, Mars, cost? Well, according to The Mars Society: Estimates of the cost of a human Mars exploration program over the years have been wildly disparate, leaving much confusion in their wake. On the high end ofRead MoreEssay on The Life of Konstantin Tsiolokovsky1034 Words   |  5 Pagesand multi-staging, gyroscopes, escape velocities from the Earth’s gravitational field, and the principle of action and reaction. He paved the way for Sputnik I (the world’s first artificial satellite) and the Vostok rocket (the first of manned spaceflight). Tsiolkovsky is considered one of the fathers of rocketry. Robert H. Goddard (1882-1945), considered the father of modern rocketry, was a physics professor who had a talent for practical engineering and experimentation. By 1926, he constructedRead MoreApplication Of Using Crispr Cas875 Words   |  4 Pagesspace are endless. Scientist could manipulate the DNA of humans so that mutations provide astronauts with denser bones and larger amounts of muscle mass. Researchers can also use CRISPR-Cas to edit the genome of astronauts so that they resemble the mutations found in â€Å"Superhumans.† These mutations would make astronauts less vulnerable to bone loss and many other effects experiences in space travel. In addition, scientist could splice human DNA with other organisms through a process called transgenesisRead MoreSpace Flight: Risk of Performance Errors Due to Sleep Loss1644 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction During spaceflight astronauts will experience fatigue that can threaten their health and performance during their period of exploration. If fatigue during space flight goes untreated, there is a potential long-term health effects. The term fatigue can be explained as weariness from bodily or mental exertion and temporary reduction of functioning organs due to excessive stimulus. Astronauts are prone to other risk during spaceflight as well, these are the following: sleep loss, circadian