Presented By Laurice Hinn PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CHALLENGES OF SPACE TRAVEL content/uploads/2015/10/space-exploration.jpg

THE QUESTION: What are some of the long term effects of space travel on the human body? Comes from the article, “Physical and Psychological Challenges of Space Travel: An Overview, by M.G. Ziegler and J.V. Mack

QUESTION FOR YOU: What are some of the myth’s you have heard of regarding space travel?

HUMAN ADAPTATION TO SPACE Major problem associated with space travel is human adaptation to space. Late 50’s – Animal testing in space Laika – Russian dog sent to space Able and Baker – American Squirrel monkeys -I63_EA9g--/vpjnmwhjtgjrtzankemu.jpg ak0.pinimg.com/736x/31/f3/34/31f334c ff2 a22b4950ffc35.jpg

HUMAN ADAPTATION TO SPACE 1960’s – The U.S. and Soviet Russia attempt to reach the moon – Mission Apollo (U.S.) reaches the moon Minimal research on Astronauts, research relied on travels to Antarctica, in submarines and research submersibles, and simulators NASA mandates the requirements for human research during space travel

WEIGHTLESSNESS Weightlessness – having no weight, no force to support your body Head-down bed rest at a 6 degree tilt can reproduce the fluid shifts occurring in weightlessness Styf et. al. – Modified head-down bed rest produced intense lower back and abdominal pain, headaches, leg pain, and feelings of depression.

NASA STUDY ON WEIGHTLESSNESS NASA was recently seeking applicants to stay in bed for three months in exchange for 18,000 dollars B0QYSX809fs/Vl2n5QgowRI/AAAAAAAAFIk/xYrirrY 64OQ/s1600/x6.jpg

HUMAN SKELETAL MUSCLE Spinal nerves stretch, account for growth in space, as well as back pain. Back pain one of the most frequently occurring medical problems in space (68% of astronauts) Lose bone density (2% for each month) Muscle loss in space (20% in the first 2 weeks staging/user_answer/avatars/315325/larg e/open-uri z1wwfu.jpeg?

RETURN TO EARTH Prolonged weightlessness produces problems with abnormal baroflexes, uncoordinated gait, impaired motor control. Muscle soreness, tight hamstrings and calves Study by Cooke et al. recorded electrocardiogram, finger photoplethysmographic pressure, and respiratory flow before, during, and after two 9 month long missions. Exercise – before, during, after.

CHANGES IN HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY DURING THE FIRST 3 DAYS IN SPACE Cardiovascular and hormone physiology one of the first things to alter due to weightlessness Changes in sympathetic nerve activity ACTH and ADH hormones increase Reduced fluid and food intake “Puffy face-bird leg” syndrome” Reduced plasma volume

RETURN TO EARTH Study by Meck et al. 20% of astronauts cannot tolerate upright posture for 10 minutes on return to earth Problems with hypotension and sympathetic nervous system withdrawal become more severe with long-duration weightlessness. Orthostatic intolerance Difficult to re-adjust after longer periods of time veineuse-deplace-fluides-eng.jpg

QUESTION FOR YOU: Can you think of what some of the major stressors may be in space?

STRESS IN SPACE Effects of weightlessness, isolation, difficult routine cited as stressors. Kansas et al. references major stresses of space travel including sleep disorders, anxiety, autonomic disturbances (ie. palpitations), concentration and attention difficulty, sensitivity to bright lights and noises NASA assesses motivation to participate, tolerance for stress, decision making skills, emotional maturity, ability to work with others, physical exams, alongside astronaut proficiencies.

SLEEP DISTURBANCES Case study on astronaut J.Linenger’s 5 months in space by Monk et al. Studied effects of prolonged time in space on the endogenous circadian pacemaker Internal clock severely impacted after 3 months, resulting in problems affecting sleep, alertness, and immune function mb/6/6e/Jerry_Linenger.jpg/220px- Jerry_Linenger.jpg

IMMUNE FUNCTION Oral antibiotics absorbed differently due to weightlessness Confinement of the space station ideal for the spread of diseases Mills et al – study shows changes in immune cells on return from weightlessness Twin Study – – Mark and Scott Kelly to study affects of space flight. 5TWIN/25TWIN-blog427.jpg

IMMUNE FUNCTION AND IT’S IMPLICATIONS Stowe et al. Stresses associated with spaceflight resulted in decreased virus-specific T-cell immunity and reactivation of EBV. Immune suppression Virulence changes in bacteria

IN CONCLUSION… Weightlessness plays a huge role in the effects of space on the body Space travel presents physical and psychological challenges, both during travel and upon return More research still needs to be done to determine how humans can adapt to space travel

RESOURCES "Astronaut Bio: J. M. Linenger 8/01." Astronaut Bio: J. M. Linenger 8/01. Web. 8 Jan “Flies in Space – Immune System: Changes in Space.” National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Web. 5 Jan Kramer, Miriam. “New Study Examines Why Astronauts Grow Taller in Space | Space.com.” Space.co. PURCH. Web.8.Jan spines.htmlhttp:// spines.html “Plasma and Blood Volume in Space.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Web. 7 Jan “Psychology of Space Exploration.” NASA History Series. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Web. 8. Jan Space Top 5: Effects of Space on the Human Body. Youtube, Web. Williams, David, Andre Kuipers, Chiaki Mukai, and Robert Thirsk. "Acclimation during Space Flight: Effects on Human Physiology." CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal. Canadian Medical Association. Web. 9 Jan

YOUTUBE LINKS Weightlessness: Exercise in Space: Twin Study: