Isolate from the world and feel low
Long knowledge
The Shenzhou 13 manned spacecraft was successfully launched on the 16th, starting China's longest manned flight to date.
The three astronauts will stay in orbit in the core module of China's Tiangong Space Station for 6 months.
Astronauts work and live in space for a long time, what will happen to their bodies?
How to ensure their health?
American astronaut Scott Kelly has stayed on the International Space Station for 340 consecutive days, holding the record for the longest single space mission of an American astronaut.
Astronaut Peggy Whitson has spent 665 days in space, making him the longest American astronaut in space.
In order to study the impact of the space environment on the human body, NASA has conducted a comparative study on Scott Kelly and his twin brother Mark Kelly.
From March 2015 to March 2016, Scott Kelly stayed on the International Space Station for 340 days while Mark Kelly lived on Earth.
A comparative study of the physical conditions of the two showed that about a year of space missions caused Scott Kelly to lose weight, expand his carotid arteries, change DNA methylation levels, and change intestinal flora.
Some indicators returned to their previous levels within 6 months of Scott Kelly’s return to Earth, but there are still some indicators that have not been restored, and some gene expression is disturbed.
NASA stated that tracking the human body’s changes in the space environment and carrying out related research can help optimize the design and function of spacesuits, formulate health standards and fitness plans for astronauts, and conduct physical and psychological adaptation training, so as to develop more for the future. Prepare for long-term human deep space exploration missions.
Related NASA research shows that the space environment has five main impacts on astronauts, including space radiation, the physical and psychological impact of isolation from the outside world, the inconvenience of being far away from the earth, the impact of microgravity environment on health, and long-term closure. The impact of the environment on the human body.
The radiation that astronauts bear in space is much higher than that of the earth, and the longer they stay, the greater the amount of radiation. The risks they face include diseases caused by radiation and changes in the central nervous system.
Researchers simulate the cosmic ray environment on the ground, study its impact on human health, and respond to the effects of space radiation by more accurately measuring radiation levels and developing more advanced radiation shielding materials.
Astronauts are isolated from the outside world during space missions and stay in a closed environment for a long time. Sleep problems, fatigue, depression, and immune system changes may occur.
Related NASA studies improve the impact of the enclosed environment on the human body by adjusting the brightness of the space capsule and using virtual reality equipment to simulate a relaxed environment. It encourages astronauts to decompress by writing diaries and “grow vegetables” in space.
Microgravity or weightlessness in space can also affect the human body.
According to NASA, the mineral density of the weight-bearing bones of astronauts in space decreases by 1% to 1.5% on average per month; the loss of muscle mass is also faster; human body fluids will flow up to the head in a microgravity environment, possibly Put pressure on the eyes and cause vision problems.
Researchers are adopting a series of measures to deal with these effects, including allowing astronauts to wear negative pressure devices to control the flow of body fluids, and developing potassium citrate drugs to combat the risk of kidney stones.
NASA has also developed a method for collecting and measuring urine produced by astronauts in space. It analyzes the different levels of urine substances to determine whether the astronauts are at risk of kidney stones during the mission, and based on this Adjust their diet, exercise habits and water intake to intervene.