Posted on 07/28/2016 7:21:09 AM PDT by BenLurkin
ASA astronauts on the Apollo missions to the moon, flown in the 1960s and 1970s, are the only humans to have flown beyond the protective magnetic shielding of Earth — and a new study shows that exposure to deep-space radiation may have taken a toll on their hearts.
The research compared Apollo astronauts' fates with those of unflown astronauts — who never made it into space — and those who lingered in low-Earth orbit, and found an increased level of death from cardiovascular problems in the deep-space adventurers. In a study with mice, the researchers also found a long-term effect on heart health from radiation exposure.
The International Space Station is scheduled to be decommissioned in 2024, and nations (and private companies like SpaceX) are turning their sights to the moon and Mars, said Michael Delp, a researcher at Florida State University and lead author of the new study. And with that comes exposure to deep-space radiation, which we know little about.
"With deep-space radiation, really, the 24 Apollo astronauts that went to the moon are the only astronauts that have really been exposed to this, because all the others — cosmonauts and astronauts — have stayed in low-Earth orbit," Delp told Space.com. While there have been a few previous studies looking at astronauts' causes of death, this was the first to compare astronauts with other astronauts rather than the general population, Delp said — the study's control population included astronauts assigned to Apollo, Gemini and space shuttle missions that were ultimately canceled, among others. Those astronauts were selected but never made it to space, so they should have the same baseline health as those that did.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
Most of those guys are still alive almost 45+ years later.
I have also heard that many astronauts have diminished eyesight after spending extended time in space. May have to do with continuous atmospheric pressure on the skull or orbital socket.
NASA engineer admits they can’t get past the Van Allen Belts. It is all a hoax.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlXG0REiVzE
Long term low gravity erases bone density.
Long term elevated radiation very bad for health.
Manned fligh to Mars is a moronic idea.
The expense of it.
Standard shielding from gamma radiation is 1” of Pb or 10” of steel.
The big problem is any shielding adds weight, which adds required fuel, which adds cost. Given that NASA’s primary focus is on Muslim outreach, nobody will foot that bill.
Must be a plug for that Mars Boy movie
One of the ISS missions is as a zero gravity lab.
A wheel space station would be many times the cost and size of the ISS, and there are apparently a lot of unknowns, reducing it to a very expensive experiment.
What the hell did they expect? Humans are “optimized” for life on Earth. Humans are not made for living on any other planet, or on no planet. Unless they create a true substitute for gravity, like in the movie 2001, humans will not survive long trips in space.
Not sure what you are saying. I have been under continuous atmospheric pressure all my life. Except when I was 200ft under water, but that is just more pressure.
I think the diminished eyesight is from extended time under artificial light.
When were you 200ft underwater? Were you a Scuba Diver or on a Navy Sub? You were almost down far enough to meet King Neptune!
Hardhat & light gear. Two month course.
Regular earthlings are getting diminished eyesight from smart phones, PC’s and TV also.
NASA working on a robot for deep space travel, Valkyrie.
They are working with the University of Edinburgh.
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