We Don’t Know Why Astronauts Get Motion Sick

Space motion sickness (SMS) affects many astronauts, causing symptoms like nausea and dizziness. Despite long-standing awareness, the exact cause remains unclear. Three main hypotheses are explored: fluid shift, sensory conflict, and otolith asymmetry. Fluid shift suggests microgravity redistributes body fluids, affecting the vestibular system. Sensory conflict posits mismatched sensory signals cause SMS. Otolith asymmetry considers ear stone size differences. Ongoing research, including private space missions, aims to better understand and mitigate SMS.

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