The Battle Against What Spaceflight Does To Your Health Read more:

universetoday.com ^ | May 29, 2014 | Elizabeth Howell on

[BenLurkin]

It’s one example of how extended stays in flight can alter your health. Despite NASA’s best efforts, bones and muscles weaken and months of rehabilitation are needed after astronauts spend a half-year on the space station. But in recent years, there have been strides in understanding what microgravity does to the human body — and how to fix it.

[pogo101]

Now that Obama has removed NASA’s manned mission capacity, along with our nation’s testes, we no longer have to worry about space atrophy! Ending job lock!

[rktman]

Brain damage in mark kelley_giffords place.

[camle]

sounds like a job for an amputee

[Trod Upon]

Apparently it turned Mark Kelly into an A—hole.

[rawcatslyentist]

But it made the slimes feel good about themselves.

[BenLurkin]

Not to mention Lisa Nowak...

[who_would_fardels_bear]

1. Replace a few very expensive manned missions with dozens of more cost effective unmanned probe/rover/orbiter missions.

2. Wait until AI is strong enough so that we can send semi-intelligent robots into space when necessary.

3. Relax. The ability to send beings that evolved under strong gravitational forces into a low gravitational environment chockful of nasty radiation should not be on the top ten list of required accomplishments for a nation to consider itself manly enough to continue to exist.

Manlier pursuits would include running balanced budgets, achieving energy independence, reining the NSA/FBI/CIA back within Constitutional limits, etc.

[pogo101]

I agree with your last point about other things being more important. And while I love the idea of pushing cheap robotic (unmanned) missions TOO, I would maintain at least the core, the “seed corn,” of manned flight. It’s a pittance.

[Trod Upon]

It looks like that picture was snapped right as she was having a moment of clarity about the whole situation. She and Kelly would have been perfect for each other.