The Long-Term Impact of Space on Astronaut Health Deterioration
Traveling to space, an extraordinary feat for humans, comes with significant health risks. The unique conditions of space make it inhospitable to life as we know it on Earth. While technological advancements have allowed for the creation of survivable environments like the International Space Station (ISS) and the Space Shuttle Program, these spaces are still markedly different from Earth.
Astronauts living in space face numerous challenges due to the absence of Earth's gravity, atmosphere, and magnetic field. In space, they must navigate through limited space for exercise, contend with sleeping upright in small sleep stations, and adhere to a restricted diet due to certain foods being banned by NASA.
The limited menu on the ISS is dictated by factors such as crumb control, hygiene, digestive health, and odor. Foods that produce crumbs or are difficult to manage in microgravity are avoided, and tortillas are used instead due to their ease of handling. Hygiene and practicality are also assessed, with messy or difficult-to-clean foods often restricted. Maintaining a healthy digestive system in space is crucial, and certain foods that may cause discomfort or digestive issues could potentially be restricted. Strong-smelling foods may be avoided due to the confined living environment on the ISS.
Readjusting to life on Earth poses its own set of challenges for astronauts. Upon returning home, they often experience issues with balance, leaving their legs unstable for over a week. Sleep disturbances are also common, resulting from the lack of a day-and-night cycle in space disrupting a person's circadian rhythm.
The long-term consequences of space travel can be more damaging still. The specifics of the food restriction on the ISS are not extensively detailed, but meal selections place great emphasis on practicality and safety. Food items are chosen for their long shelf life to ensure they remain fresh for use in long-duration space missions. Astronauts aboard the ISS typically feast on dehydrated meals, vacuum-sealed items, and foods that are easy to manage in microgravity.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, astronauts' diets during space travel prioritize foods with long shelf lives, considering the specific requirements of environmental-science, making meal selections practical and safe for long-duration missions.
- Sleeping upright in small sleep stations and adhering to a restricted diet due to certain foods being banned by NASA are unique challenges faced by astronauts while living in space, making the livelihood a complex intersection of fitness-and-exercise, sleep, and space-and-astronomy.
- Returning to Earth after space travel can bring about challenges, as astronauts often face sleep disturbances due to the disrupted circadian rhythm caused by the lack of a day-and-night cycle in space, underscoring the impact of space travel on overall health and wellness.
