Latest news with #HumanResearchProgram
NDTV
19 hours ago
- Health
- NDTV
Shubhanshu Shukla "Not Feeling Well" In ISS: Effect Of Spaceflight On Body
New Delhi: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the 39-year-old Indian Air Force pilot turned astronaut, reminisced on the launch in his first call from space. He has described the experience as "indescribable." Astronaut Shukla and his team will perform scientific tasks for the next 14 days in the International Space Station (ISS). Mr Shukla also said, "I was not feeling well, and I was very sleepy when we were launched into the vacuum. Learning how to walk and eat in space like a child." The #Ax4 crew—commander Peggy Whitson, @ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, @ESA astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, and mission specialist Tibor Kapu—emerges from the Dragon spacecraft and gets their first look at their home in low Earth orbit. — NASA (@NASA) June 26, 2025 Effect of Spaceflight and Zero Gravity on Human Body NASA's Human Research Program (HRP) has been researching the effects of space travel on the human body for over 50 years. Knowing how spaceflight affects people is important when astronauts travel from the low-Earth orbit of the International Space Station to deep space locations on and around the Moon and beyond. A Mars expedition will expose astronauts to three distinct gravitational conditions. Crews living and working on Mars will experience gravity that is about one-third that of Earth. Crews will be weightless for the six-month journey between the planets. Changing from one gravity field to another is more difficult than it seems. Space motion sickness affects several crew members, making it difficult for them to move, balance, coordinate their hand-eye and head-eye movements, and maintain spatial orientation. After returning home, personnel will eventually need to adjust to Earth's gravity. According to NASA, weight-bearing bones lose between 1 per cent and 1.5 per cent of their mineral density each month while in space, yet the human body is not affected by Earth's gravity. Rehabilitation may not fully restore bone loss after returning to Earth, but their risk of fracture is reduced. In addition, the fluids in the body move upward towards the head under microgravity, which could strain the eyes and impair eyesight. Crews may have a higher risk of kidney stones if prophylactic or countermeasures are not taken because of dehydration and increased calcium excretion from their bones. Spinal ultrasounds are used to track back pain, which some astronauts reported experiencing while in space. Bone density and muscle size are assessed for deterioration both before and following spaceflight using MRI and high-resolution imaging techniques. Periodically, crew members assess their fitness levels to assist researchers in better understanding how spaceflight can cause a deterioration in heart function. Moreover, astronauts lose muscle mass in microgravity more quickly than they would on Earth if they fail to adhere to a healthy diet and exercise regimen. Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three other astronauts are on the Axiom Mission 4, which was launched from Florida. The space mission is scheduled to run for 14 days.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NASA astronauts who returned to Earth are expected to feel 'disoriented' and 'dizzy.' What happens to human bodies after being in space, explained.
When NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore arrived at the International Space Station in June, they thought they would be there for eight days. Instead, 286 days later, they finally started their voyage back to Earth with two other astronauts aboard a SpaceX capsule early Tuesday morning. The group, which includes NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, splashed down off the coast of Florida right before 6 p.m. ET Tuesday evening. Rescue crews came to recover the astronauts around 6:30 p.m. ET and were pulled from the capsule in medical stretchers — not because of anything that might have happened during their mission aboard the International Space Station but because this is the protocol for all astronauts returning to Earth. Research has found that spending extended time in space can cause significant changes to the human body — however, NASA does not expect the astronauts to experience any serious long-term health repercussions since nine months isn't a particularly long stay in space. For decades, NASA's Human Research Program has analyzed what happens to astronauts' bodies while they're in space. The biggest challenge for astronauts is dealing with how the fluids in a human body float upward without gravity, causing faces to swell, sinuses to congest and legs to turn weaker. Without gravity, astronauts tend to experience symptoms similar to osteoporosis, a disease that weakens bones. Since there isn't any gravity, astronauts' bones and muscles aren't naturally working while they move. NASA reported that without gravity, bones lose an average of 1% to 1.5% of mineral density per month while in space, which can increase the likelihood of the astronaut suffering from muscle mass loss or fracturing their limbs. This can also cause major headaches and back pain since astronauts are likely to grow 2 to 3 inches taller while in space (although they will revert to their original height months after returning to Earth). However, astronauts have learned that incorporating a regular workout has helped them protect their bone masses from diminishing. If astronauts do not exercise regularly or follow a specific diet, they will lose muscle mass faster than they would on Earth, which is why astronauts aboard the ISS have strict 2-hour daily fitness routines. The lack of gravity can also flatten the shape of eyeballs and cause vision problems. Any negative impact on the eyes could cause changes to the retina and affect blood flow, which could change how well astronauts can see. In November, NASA issued a statement on Williams's health after rumors circulated that she had lost a significant amount of weight after photos of her on the spacecraft were released. NASA's top medical officer, Dr. James Polk, said that Williams was healthy and not suffering from any medical issues. In a video interview with the New England Sports Network that same month, Williams claimed she was the same weight as she was before the trip, but noted that the shape of her body — like skinnier legs and a swollen head — could seem to have changed to the public because of the lack of gravity. She said she was doing some weight-lifting exercises to help build up leg muscle. Immediately upon landing, the vestibular system — which is the organ in the inner ear that maintains balance — will immediately be confused by the force of gravity, which makes it hard for astronauts to walk. Astronauts will also experience 'baby feet,' in which the soles of their feet become super soft after spending months not walking around, so it can be painful for them to walk again on Earth. Matthew Dominick, commander of the SpaceX Crew-8 mission in March 2024, said that recovery could take weeks or months. Dominick told reporters in November that there are big recoveries astronauts expect, like 'being disoriented, being dizzy,' but then some surprising ones like 'little things like just sitting in a hard chair' were difficult enough that he preferred to lie down on a towel during family meals instead. The most in-depth study on lasting changes was done on NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, who spent 340 days at a space station starting in 2015, and who agreed to a yearlong study of his health after he returned to Earth. His health analysis was then compared to his identical twin brother, Mark Kelly, an Arizona senator and fellow astronaut who had stayed on Earth. NASA researchers found that Scott's DNA had mutated in some of his cells, his immune system responded in new ways and his microbiome gained a new bacteria species. Frank Rubio, an American astronaut who holds the U.S. record for the longest stay in space, at 371 days, told reporters when he returned to Earth in September 2023 that a difficult health-related side effect of being in space for that long was the psychological aspect. The Baylor College of Medicine found that early on in space missions, astronauts are likely to experience disorientation and a loss of a sense of direction, which can negatively affect completing the most basic tasks. Factors like being confined in a small space with other people, the high demands of work and the loss of a regular 24-hour day-to-night lighting cycle can cause a lot of stress for astronauts while up in space. Sleep is also an important issue. Astronauts have to strap themselves to a wall to rest in a bed without gravity and the environment is never fully silent or dark, a fact that has been blamed for the disappearance of astronauts' circadian rhythms. NASA expects the pair will be physically fine when they land on Earth. And even though they were removed from the SpaceX capsule by stretchers and will undergo immediate health evaluations, it's all done as a precautionary measure. The astronauts themselves seem confident that once they land, they will feel OK. "Been working out for the past nine months," Williams wrote in an email to Live Science. "We feel strong and ready to tackle Earth's gravity."
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NASA astronauts are expected to feel 'disoriented,' 'dizzy' after returning to Earth. What happens to human bodies after being in space, explained.
When NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore arrived at the International Space Station in June, they thought they would be there for eight days. Instead, 286 days later, they finally started their voyage back to Earth with two other astronauts aboard a SpaceX capsule early Tuesday morning. The group, which includes NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, is expected to land off the coast of Florida around 6 p.m. ET Tuesday evening. Rescue crews will come to recover the astronauts and likely pull them from the capsule in medical stretchers — not because of anything that might have happened during their mission aboard the International Space Station but because this is the protocol for all astronauts returning to Earth. Research has found that spending extended time in space can cause significant changes to the human body — however, NASA does not expect the astronauts to experience any serious long-term health repercussions since nine months isn't a particularly long stay in space. For decades, NASA's Human Research Program has analyzed what happens to astronauts' bodies while they're in space. The biggest challenge for astronauts is dealing with how the fluids in a human body float upward without gravity, causing faces to swell, sinuses to congest and legs to turn weaker. Without gravity, astronauts tend to experience symptoms similar to osteoporosis, a disease that weakens bones. Since there isn't any gravity, astronauts' bones and muscles aren't naturally working while they move. NASA reported that without gravity, bones lose an average of 1% to 1.5% of mineral density per month while in space, which can increase the likelihood of the astronaut suffering from muscle mass loss or fracturing their limbs. This can also cause major headaches and back pain since astronauts are likely to grow 2 to 3 inches taller while in space (although they will revert to their original height months after returning to Earth). However, astronauts have learned that incorporating a regular workout has helped them protect their bone masses from diminishing. If astronauts do not exercise regularly or follow a specific diet, they will lose muscle mass faster than they would on Earth, which is why astronauts aboard the ISS have strict 2-hour daily fitness routines. The lack of gravity can also flatten the shape of eyeballs and cause vision problems. Any negative impact on the eyes could cause changes to the retina and affect blood flow, which could change how well astronauts can see. In November, NASA issued a statement on Williams's health after rumors circulated that she had lost a significant amount of weight after photos of her on the spacecraft were released. NASA's top medical officer, Dr. James Polk, said that Williams was healthy and not suffering from any medical issues. In a video interview with the New England Sports Network that same month, Williams claimed she was the same weight as she was before the trip, but noted that the shape of her body — like skinnier legs and a swollen head — could seem to have changed to the public because of the lack of gravity. She said she was doing some weight-lifting exercises to help build up leg muscle. Immediately upon landing, the vestibular system — which is the organ in the inner ear that maintains balance — will immediately be confused by the force of gravity, which makes it hard for astronauts to walk. Astronauts will also experience 'baby feet,' in which the soles of their feet become super soft after spending months not walking around, so it can be painful for them to walk again on Earth. Matthew Dominick, commander of the SpaceX Crew-8 mission in March 2024, said that recovery could take weeks or months. Dominick told reporters in November that there are big recoveries astronauts expect, like 'being disoriented, being dizzy,' but then some surprising ones like 'little things like just sitting in a hard chair' were difficult enough that he preferred to lie down on a towel during family meals instead. The most in-depth study on lasting changes was done on NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, who spent 340 days at a space station starting in 2015, and who agreed to a yearlong study of his health after he returned to Earth. His health analysis was then compared to his identical twin brother, Mark Kelly, an Arizona senator and fellow astronaut who had stayed on Earth. NASA researchers found that Scott's DNA had mutated in some of his cells, his immune system responded in new ways and his microbiome gained a new bacteria species. Frank Rubio, an American astronaut who holds the U.S. record for the longest stay in space, at 371 days, told reporters when he returned to Earth in September 2023 that a difficult health-related side effect of being in space for that long was the psychological aspect. The Baylor College of Medicine found that early on in space missions, astronauts are likely to experience disorientation and a loss of a sense of direction, which can negatively affect completing the most basic tasks. Factors like being confined in a small space with other people, the high demands of work and the loss of a regular 24-hour day-to-night lighting cycle can cause a lot of stress for astronauts while up in space. Sleep is also an important issue. Astronauts have to strap themselves to a wall to rest in a bed without gravity and the environment is never fully silent or dark, a fact that has been blamed for the disappearance of astronauts' circadian rhythms. NASA expects the pair will be physically fine when they land on Earth. And even though they will likely be removed from the SpaceX capsule by stretchers, it's done as a precautionary measure. The astronauts themselves seem confident that once they land, they will feel OK. "Been working out for the past nine months," Williams wrote in an email to Live Science. "We feel strong and ready to tackle Earth's gravity."
Ammon
27-01-2025
- Health
- Ammon
Nasa warns Mars colonists risk ‘invisible' silent killer
Ammon News - Deadly space radiation and rapid outbreaks of disease are just a few of the official Nasa dangers that visitors to Mars will face. The space agency holds a list of "five hazards of human spaceflight" that puts astronauts travelling to the space station, the Moon and even the red planet at risk. Nasa is already working on returning humans to the surface of the Moon – and Mars is the obvious next stop. But Nasa's Human Research Program has warned that these space-faring pioneers will face dangerous and potentially deadly threats. Worse still, Nasa warns these dangers "can feed off one another and exacerbate effects on the human body". "Recognizing these hazards allows NASA to seek ways that overcome the challenges of sending humans to the space station, the Moon, Mars, and beyond," Nasa said. The Sun
