Space & Astronomy

What are the health risks of space travel ?

By T.K. Randall
December 16, 2012 ·  41 comments

Image Credit: Virgin Galactic Space is a dangerous place and up until now only those who have undergone extensive preparation and training have made the journey beyond our terrestrial sphere. As the space tourism industry starts to take off however, more and more everyday individuals will be given the chance to experience what it's like to travel in space. The health risks of these trips is likely to become a pressing issue in the near future.

Even on short trips, ill-effects such as motion sickness, fatigue, dehydration and a loss of appetite are to be expected. The massive vertical acceleration and deceleration could also have an affect on the human heart by making it more difficult for blood to be pumped to the brain. Individuals with a cardiovascular condition are therefore unlikely to be given permission to fly.[!gad]Space is a dangerous place and up until now only those who have undergone extensive preparation and training have made the journey beyond our terrestrial sphere. As the space tourism industry starts to take off however, more and more everyday individuals will be given the chance to experience what it's like to travel in space. The health risks of these trips is likely to become a pressing issue in the near future.

Even on short trips, ill-effects such as motion sickness, fatigue, dehydration and a loss of appetite are to be expected. The massive vertical acceleration and deceleration could also have an affect on the human heart by making it more difficult for blood to be pumped to the brain. Individuals with a cardiovascular condition are therefore unlikely to be given permission to fly.

Source: BBC News | Comments (41)

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