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How to Survive the Long Haul in Space
from New Scientist
From blackout-inducing g forces to withered muscles and bones, there aren't many tougher physical challenges than going into space.
This has been highlighted by the release of medical records from astronauts who worked on board the Russian space station Mir, which detail the gruelling effects space travel has on human health before, during and after a mission. Along with research on muscle wastage in astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS), the records demonstrate the need for better countermeasures against the hazards of living in space before any interplanetary missions are attempted.
The records were collected by Gilles Clément of the International Space University in Toulouse, France, and colleagues, who oversaw the selection, flights and rehabilitation of six European astronauts who worked on board Mir between 1988 and 1999. They have only just been released because the astronauts requested a 10-year delay.
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