Health Risks for Astronauts

Lesson from https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/hazards/ article

Open Ended

Astronauts face 5 major challenges when living and traveling in space. Predict 3 of those challenges.

Space Radiation

NASA’s Human Research Program has pinpointed five hazards that astronauts will encounter on

their journeys. These include space radiation, isolation and confinement, distance from Earth,

gravity (and the lack of it), and closed or hostile environments. Scroll down to learn details

involving each hazard.

However, these hazards do not stand alone. They can feed off one another and exacerbate effects

on the human body, which are being studied using ground-based analogs, laboratories, and the

International Space Station.

Multiple Choice

"However, these hazards do not stand alone. They can feed off one another and exacerbate effects on the human body," What does exacerbate probably mean?

• lessen

• increase

• decrease

• ruin

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a hazard to astronauts living and travelling in space?

• digestion issues

• radiation

• loneliness

• weak gravity

Match

Match the following

• types of radiation

• dangerous radiation

• dangers of radiation

• source of space radiation

• can be harmed by radiation

7

Gamma Ray, X-ray

damages cell DNA

super novas

human body, spacecraft

• 7

• Gamma Ray, X-ray

• damages cell DNA

• super novas

• human body, spacecraft

While people protect their eyes from the sun’s radiation during a solar eclipse, NASA’s space radiation experts are working to
protect the whole human body from radiation in space. Space radiation is dangerous and one of the primary health risks for
astronauts.

Space Radiation Vids

https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/radiation/space-radiation-miniseries/

Open Ended

How is NASA preparing to keep astronauts safe against radiation?

​Lunar Dust

Lunar Dust

Lunar dust exposure has not been a hazard since the 1972 Apollo missions. Data collected at that time has provided insight and many years of research. Due to the unique properties of lunar dust (and other celestial bodies), there is a possibility that exposure could lead to serious health effects (e.g., respiratory, cardiopulmonary, ocular, or dermal harm) to the crew or impact crew performance during celestial body missions.

Multiple Select

Space dust can affect which organs (select all that apply)

• eyes

• teeth

• lungs

• heart

On Earth, we have the luxury of picking up our cell phones and instantly being connected with nearly

everything and everyone around us. On a trip to Mars, astronauts will be more isolated and confined than

we can imagine. Sleep loss, circadian desynchronization, and work overload compound this issue and may

lead to decreased performance, adverse health outcomes, and compromised mission objectives.

To address this hazard, experts are developing methods for monitoring behavioral health and

adapting/refining various tools and technologies for use in the spaceflight environment to detect and treat

early risk factors. Research is also being conducted in workload and performance, light therapy for

circadian alignment, phase shifting and alertness.

Try the Astronaut Aptitude Test!

Hazard Distance from Earth

Mars is, on average, 140 million miles from Earth. Rather than a three-day lunar trip, astronauts

bound for Mars would be leaving our planet for roughly three years.

Given this distance, planning and self-sufficiency will be essential to successful missions to Mars.

Facing a communication delay of up to 20 minutes one way, the possibility of equipment failures or

medical emergencies, and a critical need to ration food and supplies, astronauts must be capable

of confronting an array of situations with minimal support from teams on Earth

Match

Match the following

• Distance to Mars

• lag time on phone calls

• length of trip to Mars

140,000,000 miles

20min

3 years

• 140,000,000 miles

• 20min

• 3 years

Open Ended

How is NASA preparing now to deal with keeping the team alive so far from home?

Gravity

Astronauts will encounter three different gravity fields on a Mars mission. On the six-month trek

between the planets, crews will be weightless. While living and working on Mars, crews will be in

approximately one-third of Earth’s gravity. Finally, upon returning home, crews will have to readapt

to Earth’s gravity.

Switching from one gravity field to another is trickier than it sounds. The transition affects spatial

orientation, head-eye and hand-eye coordination, balance, and locomotion, with some crew

members experiencing space motion sickness.

Landing a spacecraft on Mars could be challenging as astronauts adjust to the gravity field of
another celestial body. When shifting from weightlessness to gravity, astronauts may even
experience lightheadedness and fainting.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is not affected by moving from one gravity field to another?

• hand-eye coordination

• balance

• locomotion (movement)

• mental focus

Without the continuous load of Earth’s gravity, weight-bearing bones lose on average 1% to 1.5% of mineral density per month during spaceflight. Water and other fluids in the body shift upward to the head, which may put pressure on the eyes and cause vision problems. If preventive measures are not implemented, crews may experience an increased risk of developing kidney stones due to dehydration and increased excretion of calcium from their bones.

Math Response

If astronauts can lose about 1.5% of bone density per month while in space, then what percent of bone density will they lose in 3 years?

Type answer here

Correct Answer: 54

Deg^°

Rad

Gravity

https://youtu.be/f3-96ZbY5NA

Open Ended

How is NASA planning to combat the risks of low gravity on astronauts' bodies?

The ecosystem inside a spacecraft plays a big role in the daily life of an astronaut in space.

Microbes can change characteristics in space, and micro-organisms that naturally live on the human body are

transferred more easily from person to person in closed habitats, such as the space station. Stress hormone levels

can elevate and the immune system can alter, which could lead to increased susceptibility to allergies or other

illnesses. More research is needed into whether these changes pose serious risks to astronauts.

Beyond the effects of the environment on the immune system, every inch and detail of living and working quarters

must be carefully considered and designed. No one wants their house to be too hot, too cold, cramped, crowded,

loud, or poorly lit, and no one would enjoy working and living in such a habitat in space either.

Multiple Choice

What can cause astronauts to succumb to allergies in space?

• microbes

• allergies

• stress leves

• unclean water

Environment

Open Ended

How is NASA planning to create the perfect ecosystem for astronauts?

Match

Match the following

• anemia and infection

• muscles

• brain

• bones

low red blood / white blood cell count

slow reflexes and weakness

loss of perception and orientation

lose density and strength

• low red blood / white blood cell count

• slow reflexes and weakness

• loss of perception and orientation

• lose density and strength

Open Ended

What is one way you could apply one of these suggestions in your life?

Multiple Choice

Why would NASA want to use identical twins for a study on how space affects the body?

• they will react the same way

• they are both astronauts

• they have the same genetic makeup

• they will help science and our space mission

Match

Match the following

• telomeres

• carotid artery

• microbiome

• speed and accuracy

• immune system

increased in length

thickened

remained the same

decreased upon return to Earth

functioned similarly as on Earth

• increased in length

• thickened

• remained the same

• decreased upon return to Earth

• functioned similarly as on Earth

Multiple Select

What are the most relevant obstacles to long-duration human missions?Select all that apply

• radiation

• isolation

• distance from Earth

• gravity changes

• hostile environments