This post is by associate Triage Practitioner, and guest blogger, Matthew Savage
Space flight has been hot on the news recently. A number of high-profile billionaires have been battling it out to see who can launch passengers into space first. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Sir Richard Branson, the owner of Virgin Group, which contains Virgin Galactic and Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and Blue Origin have all spent years engineering a way to transport “space tourists” into our atmosphere. Branson and Jeff Bezos are launching themselves into space only weeks apart, with Branson's Virgin Galactic completing the feat on Sunday 11th July 2021. However, Bezos is still excited about his launch, suggesting that it will travel further and, according to the Blue Origins CEO Bob Smith, will be a “very different experience as Virgin Galactic does not fly above the Karman Line”. This debate over where space begins may be an interesting one for billionaires and scientists as there is no international agreement on the actual boundary of space. With mass passenger flights now very likely in the near future, psychologists and sociologists will all agree that the effects of space travel are extremely important to understand. So, what changes must “space tourists” be prepared for?
Our Body
Zero gravity is known as the experience of weightlessness, whereby the surrounding conditions exert zero gravitational force on the body. Whilst this can be extremely thrilling for a short while (imagine a gravity defying ride at a theme park), it can be damaging to our health in the long-term and stops our body from functioning properly. This experience tends to lead to the relaxation of the muscles in the body, progressive bone loss due to lack of stress which reduces the production of osteoblast cells, cells responsible for bone growth and repair. Scott Kelly, a retired US astronaut, spent 340 days living aboard the International Space Station and has since been the subject of an ongoing twin study with his brother. Kelly found that, when he returned to Earth, his skin felt as if it was on fire due to the lack of gravitational pressure he had experienced in Space. Kelly also suffered a loss of bone mass, atrophied muscles, and redistribution of blood within his body that had strained his heart (Ranganathan, 2016). This redistribution of blood pressure whilst in space leads to swollen faces and skinny legs, not the greatest look for someone who is meant to be on holiday! In addition to these physiological changes, what happens to our brain is equally interesting.
Our Brain Under Zero Gravity
Like our bodies, our brains rely on gravity to function correctly. When in space, our vestibular system is thrown out of kilter. Dizziness is common for space visitors, and the ability to perceive speed, distance and direction is reduced. Many astronauts suffer similarly to how Kelly felt when he was back on Earth. Cortisol spikes are common and immune stress signals such as cytokines are often depressed in the short term, with some crews experiencing persistent hypersensitivity reactions during flight, as well as heightened autoimmune responses as the whole system becomes “confused” (Crucian et al, 2018). Latent or dormant viruses can even develop in the blood, a real concern when considering commercial space flights and their potential for passing on diseases. In addition to this, even short term flights can have an effect on our DNA. Studies have measured telomeres, caps which protect our chromosomes from degrading and thus protecting our cells, are damaged during even short space flights and these have been examined in the urine of astronauts. Radiation and oxidative stress are said to be responsible for this damage, which can lead to cell death, diseases such as cancer and can even accelerate the ageing process (Colorado State University, 2016).
Social and Mental Health
Of course, being in space can have a huge impact on a person’s mental health. When selecting astronauts, NASA recognise the importance of picking people who can maintain positive psychological outlooks, have strong interpersonal relations and have positive health behaviours (Vakoch, 2011). Behavioural health looks at the connection between behaviours and the health and wellbeing of the body, mind and spirit, as well as the promotion of mental health resilience (SAMHSA, 2008). As an example, anxiety must be kept under control, with the process of entering and exiting Earth’s atmosphere putting serious pressure on the body and mind. It is important that all who travel to space are prepared for the effects it can have on our mental health, as even the most experienced astronauts can still suffer unforeseen problems in space. For example, Cosmonaut Valentin Lebedev noted in his journal onboard the Salyut 7 in 1982, that he “grew irritable” with his crew members, did not wish to look out the window and noted how days grew longer (Turner, 2019). Lebedev’s depression brought to light the importance of understanding the psychology of all astronauts and this will continue to be of the utmost importance as space trips last longer for both astronauts and tourists alike.
Countermeasures to Protect Humans in Space Flight
As the demand for space tourism grows following the recent achievements by Branson and Musk, it is important that all those flying into space are prepared for changes in their body, mind and mental health. Plans for increased flight times, hotels in space and colonies on the moon are all ideas that all the players involved are keen to pursue. Countermeasures are needed to ensure humans can take trips and remain happy and healthy in space. For example, space shuttles always carry medications for depression, anxiety, psychosis and motion sickness. Sleep is especially important to regulate in space, with ideas such as LED lighting used to help realign circadian rhythms and to reduce the chances of passengers experiencing the negative psychological effects of sleep deprivation. In addition to this, on-board virtual reality experiences that allow travellers to feel like they are experiencing a favourite Earth experience may also be important. So, getting away from Earth may soon be a real possibility for many people. But home comforts will still be needed to ensure a safe and happy flight!
About Matt Savage
Matthew Savage is an associate Triage Practitioner, has an MSc in Psychology, is a qualified personal trainer, and has worked within the field of cognitive rehabilitation for 5 years. He is an FA qualified football coach, with a keen interest in moral behaviour and wellbeing within team sports.
References
Crucian BE, Choukèr A, Simpson RJ, et al. Immune System Dysregulation During Spaceflight: Potential Countermeasures for Deep Space Exploration Missions. Front Immunol. 2018;9:1437. 28 Jun 2018. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2018.01437
Colorado State University. New insights on health effects of long-duration space flight. ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 25 November 2020. doi: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201125114405.htm>.
Kobie N. The design secrets Nasa's using to keep astronauts happy in space. Wired. 01 August 2019. doi: https://www.wired.co.uk/article/space-travel-design-mental-health-interiors
Turner D.D. Headspace: How Space Travel Affects Astronaut Mental Health. MIT. 2019. Doi:https://cmsw.mit.edu/angles/2019/headspace-how-space-travel-affects-astronaut-mental-health/