Space travel poses significant challenges to human health due to microgravity, high-energy radiation, and prolonged isolation. Unlike the Earth’s environment, which has a stable gravity and atmosphere, space offers an alien environment that affects bodily functions.
One of the major concerns is space radiation, which permeates the cosmos and can cause DNA damage, increased cancer risk, neurodegenerative effects, cardiovascular issues, and immune system dysregulation. The planet’s magnetic field provides some protection for astronauts in low-Earth orbit, but those traveling beyond that experience much higher radiation doses.
Microgravity also causes widespread physiological changes, including facial swelling, increased intracranial pressure, bone density loss, muscle atrophy, and cardiovascular issues. Prolonged exposure to microgravity can affect vestibular function, leading to balance and coordination problems.
Astronauts also face psychological stress, sleep disturbances, cognitive performance declines, and mood disorders due to confinement and isolation in space. Research suggests that long-duration missions may aggravate interpersonal conflicts and impact mental well-being.
Recovery from space travel varies depending on mission duration. For short-duration missions, most biological damage is reversed upon return. However, for longer missions, some issues persist, such as vision impairment and bone loss. Researchers are working to develop countermeasures to mitigate these effects, including mitochondrial-based treatments.
Despite advancements in understanding the impacts of space travel, there are still gaps in knowledge about how it affects human health, particularly in relation to lung function, cognitive function, mental health, and neuroplasticity. The study of reproductive health in space is also an area of unknowns, especially for future space colonization efforts.
Source: https://www.newsmax.com/health/health-news/astronauts-spaceflight-gravity/2025/02/20/id/1199806