For years, TRISH (The Translational Research Institute for Space Health) has supported research projects and studies that aim to solve the challenges of human exploration in space. It is important that we know, first, the risks to human health during space travel. Understanding some of these risks (see below) is essential for a successful return to the moon in NASA’s Artemis missions. 

Astronauts experience decreased muscle mass, strength, and endurance because moving around requires reduced work from the legs and back. As a result, the muscles can begin to weaken or atrophy. To help combat this, astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have a strict exercise regime. 

In space missions, astronauts can experience disorientation, space motion sickness, and a loss of sense of direction, making completion of even basic tasks difficult. In an emergency, decreased sensorimotor function and postural stability could be dangerous.

In space, astronauts may face decreases in blood volume and aerobic capacity, while also experiencing increased arrhythmias. Although the cardiovascular system functions well in space, the body does not require as much work from the heart (still a muscle, after all) in microgravity. This could lead to deconditioning and a decrease in the size of the heart.

Available at: https://www.bcm.edu/academiccenters/space-medicine. Access: 30 Dec. 2023. Adapted.