‘Trapped’ astronauts return: the thousand and one dangers that have faced when spending so much time in space

Up there, in effect, there is no air, the medium through which the sound is transmitted on Earth, so silence is absolute. But it is not just that that makes space into a hostile environment for humans. The temperature, for example, can pass in a matter of seconds of the burning heat of the sun to the extreme cold of the shadows, and all under the relentless bombardment of high energy particles from the sun and the stars, capable of damaging DNA, causing cancer and causing ravages in the nervous system.

Here, on earth, that omnipresent solar and cosmic radiation is absorbed or reflected by an invisible shield, the atmosphere, and by a powerful magnetic field that is capable of diverting most of those external aggressions. But in space that shield does not exist, and we only survive thanks to the technology, ships and space costumes that try to emulate, if possible, the conditions of our native planet in an environment where everything seems designed to kill us.

Up there, to top it off, there are also micrometeoritos, a rain of deadly ‘space bullets’ that constantly stalk, threatening to pierce ships and space suits. Although the space may seem empty, it is actually full of small particles that travel at dizzying speeds, of tens of thousands of km/h. Diminuts projectiles that seriously make the life of astronauts. In the space station, without going any further, the orbit change maneuvers are frequent to avoid impacts of this type, and on more than one occasion the crews have had to be evacuated to the exhaust ships in case they had to precipitate their return to the earth.

In short, and as much as we try, not even inside a ship, or a space station, we can completely consider ourselves safe. The Odyssey recently suffered by Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore and Suni Williams, whose ship was found by leaving them trapped in the International Space Station (ISS) for nine months in what should have been a routine trip of a few days, has put the extreme challenges that astronauts face during their dangerous missions on the routine.

A nothing spatial body

For half a century, the NASA human research program (HRP) investigates what happens to the human body in space. And use that knowledge to design systems, devices and strategies that manage to keep the crews safe.

The American space agency, at a time when humanity is preparing to undertake the conquest of the Moon and Mars, is especially interested in understanding how our body reacts during long -term flights. For example, do you have an astronaut who spends six months at the space station the same risks as another who celebrates a mission of several years on Mars? The answer is a resounding ‘no’.

An outstanding example of this research is the well -known study of the twins, in which astronaut Scott Kelly spent almost a year at the International Space Station, while his twin brother, Mark Kelly, remained on earth. The study provided valuable data on the physiological and psychological changes experienced by Scott compared to his brother.

Ridge dangers

In total, NASA has identified five main classes for humans in space, all grouped under the acronym “ridge”:

Radiation: Exposure to cosmic radiation increases the risk of cancer and other diseases.

Isolation and confinement: Prolonged isolation can have negative effects on mental health.

Distance from Earth: The remoteness of the Earth hinders communication and medical assistance.

Gravity: Microgravity and changes in gravity affect the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular system.

Hostile/closed environments: Closed and controlled environments of spacecraft may raise challenges for mental health.

The adverse effects of these five categories are manifested in multiple systems of the organism, triggering a waterfall of changes that may have harmful consequences for health. We list below the main ones.

Muscle atrophy and bone density

The absence of gravity causes rapid muscle atrophy, with a loss of mass that can reach up to 20% in long -term missions. In space, in fact, the muscles behave as if they were constantly at rest, losing strength and size. Bone density also decreases at an alarming rate, from 1% to 1.5% for each month of space travel, a rate similar to that of accelerated osteoporosis, which increases the risk of fractures. In other words, in space the bones become more porous and fragile, like those of an older person.

Therefore, and to mitigate these harmful effects, astronauts must undergo exhaustive exercise regimes, which include resistance and cardiovascular training. In a mission to Mars, for example, astronauts must face three different gravitational fields. Thus, during the six months of the trip they will remain ungrateful, and when they arrive and work on Mars they will find a gravity that is approximately one third of the land. Finally, when they return home after one or maybe two years, crews must adapt to the severity of the earth.

A transition that, according to NASA, is more complex than it seems, and can affect spatial orientation, head-eo and hand-eo coordination, balance, locomotion, and cause dizziness. When passing from extravidity to gravity, in addition, it is possible that astronauts cannot maintain blood pressure when standing, which can cause fainting. Not to mention that, in the absence of gravity, body fluids tend to move towards the head, which can exert pressure on the eyes and cause vision problems.

A weaker heart

Another important problem linked to ungravation is the heart, which by not having to fight terrestrial gravity when pumping blood, weakens, which can lead to a decrease in heart volume and its capacity. It is as if the heart, not having to strive as much as on earth, became vague and shrink.

There are also changes in the distribution of blood and other body fluids, which tend to move towards the upper body, which can cause nasal congestion, headaches and alterations in blood pressure. Cardiac arrhythmias have also been observed in some astronauts, which raises concerns on long -term cardiovascular health.

The combined action of spatial radiation and the stress of any space mission is also capable of weakening the immune system, reducing lymphocyte production, increasing susceptibility to infections and reactivating latent viruses, such as herpes. The microbial flora of the body is also not immune to changes, so it is vital to maintain hygiene within spaces and space stations.

The nervous system, altered

Microgravity affects the vestibular system, responsible for balance, which can cause dizziness, nausea and spatial disorientation, symptoms that are part of the so -called ‘spatial adaptation syndrome’. It is as if the brain was confused by not receiving the usual gravity signals.

It has also proven that cosmic radiation can have long -term effects on the brain, including changes in cognitive function and risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Effects that add to the aforementioned risks of cancer, cataracts and DNA damage.

Psychological damage

Long -term space missions constitute, of course, a challenge not only for the body, but for the mind. Astronauts live in small spaces, isolated from the world and their loved ones. Monotony, lack of privacy and the constant feeling that any error could be fatal can generate stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health problems due to isolation, the separation of family, confinement and the high level of demand.

The circadian rhythm is altered due to the difference between the cycles of terrestrial light and darkness, which can cause insomnia and fatigue. Space crews are carefully chosen to ensure that they can work as a team during missions that can last between 6 and 12 months. Future crews for a mission to the moon or Mars will be subjected to an even more demanding evaluation, selection and preparation process, since they will travel farther and, probably, for longer than astronauts usually remain in the space station.

Different investigations have revealed that it is important to consider both the duration and type of confined and isolated experience. The more restricted the space and the less contact there is external people, the more likely there are human beings developing behavioral problems, cognitive or psychiatric disorders.

Therefore, NASA has been studying people in isolated environments for years, and has developed methods and technologies that can alleviate these possible problems. For example, actigraphy, which helps evaluate and improve sleep and alert state when registering how much people move and how much environmental light there are around it. The new lighting, driven by the development of light emitting diodes (LED), is used at the space station to help align the circadian rhythms of astronauts and improve sleep, alertness and performance.

On the other hand, crew members dedicate several minutes a day to writing daily, safe spaces in which they vent their frustrations, while providing researchers with a valuable tool to study the problems that most usually around the minds of the crew. And they can even take care of their own space orchards, which provides benefits to their mental health, in addition to providing a fresh source of food and helping to purify the air.

Technological dependence

In space, then, survival depends almost only on technology. Thanks to it, astronauts can obtain oxygen, water and food, and protect themselves from vacuum and lethal radiation. Of course, the minimum failure in any of these systems can be fatal. The machines are complex and delicate and, despite the precautions and redundant systems, they can suffer failures at any time.

To mitigate the numerous dangers of spatial trips, the different agencies are developing various countermeasures and technologies, including radiation protection systems, devices to counteract muscle atrophy and bone loss, technologies to monitor cardiovascular health and the immune system, psychological support systems and training programs, air purification systems and water and water development systems They last long periods of time.

As humanity ventures into more ambitious missions, such as future trips to Mars, research on the effects of space in the human body becomes even more crucial. International collaboration and scientific progress are essential to guarantee the safety and well -being of those who dare to explore the dangerous borders of the cosmos.