Be Prepared, Train Prepared & Adapt
Boeing Starliner took
off on third scheduled date June 5th, with Sunita Williams and Barry
Wilmore. On June 6th at 1.34 pm, the Starliner successfully docked on the front-facing port of the Harmony module of the International
Space Station. And on June 9th, NASA that there would be a delay in
the return date of the two astronauts who were meant to spend only a week at
the ISS, as engineers were looking into system checkouts of the Starliner. On
June 14, a second delay was announced, with the astronauts scheduled to now
undock from the ISS on June 25. On June 21, the return date
for the spacecraft and the astronauts was shifted to July.
How this kind of mission’s
effect on astronauts physically and mentally?
These
kind of extended missions or long duration space mission raises concerns about
the prolonged impact on their physical and mental health due to extended time
in space. Astronauts may battle different risks such as radiation,
microgravity, bone loss, etc. Following are the risks astronauts may battle in
space:
1.
Radiation Exposure Risk
Exposure to radiation is
significant for astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS), especially
while traveling through regions with radiation levels up to 30 times higher
than those on Earth. Extended exposure can raise the chance of developing
cancer, degenerate tissue, and harm the nervous system. Astronauts are
subjected to distinct and elevated radiation exposure levels in space compared
to Earth. Particles caught in Earth's magnetic field, solar energetic particles
from the Sun, and galactic cosmic rays are the three main sources of space
radiation.
2.
Isolation
& Confinement
In order to ensure that the
expedition crews chosen for a stay on the space station will be able to
function well together for the course of their six- to twelve-month missions,
they are carefully recruited, trained, and provided with support. Because they
will be traveling farther and maybe for a longer period of time than past
humans, in an isolated and limited environment with only a few other people,
crews for Moon or Mars missions will need to go through even more thorough
evaluation, selection, and preparation. Furthermore, crews will probably be
multinational and multiethnic, thus teamwork and cross-cultural sensitivity are
critical to the success of the operation.
3.
Distance
from Earth
The space station is 240 miles
above the surface of the planet. The distance between Earth and the Moon is one
thousand times greater. Mars, on the other hand, is typically 140 million miles
away from Earth. Astronauts must work as a team to solve problems and come up
with solutions while on Mars because mission control can only provide limited
assistance due to communication delays of up to 20 minutes one-way.
It's also crucial to think about
what kinds of food and medications to bring for a multi-year trip when there
won't be a pharmacy or grocery store. Astronauts traveling to Mars will need to
pack all of the food, gear, and medical supplies they require, in contrast to
space station crews who frequently get supplies from cargo planes from Earth.
4.
Effects
of Microgravity
Astronauts who spend extended
periods of time in microgravity may experience severe muscle and bone loss; on
average, they lose 1.5% of their bone mass each month. This may reduce
cardiovascular health, raise the chance of injury, and impede physical performance.
5.
Fluid
Redistribution in the Body
Microgravity causes fluids in the body to shift toward the upper half,
leading to puffiness, altered speech motor control, and loss of smell, taste
and balance, all of which can impact astronauts’ well-being. Additionally,
under microgravity, bodily fluids migrate upward toward the head, potentially
putting pressure on the eyes and impairing eyesight. Due to dehydration and
increased calcium excretion from their bones, crew members may be more
susceptible to kidney stones if preventive or countermeasures are not taken.
6.
Hostile/
Closed Environment
An astronaut's day-to-day
existence in space is greatly influenced by the environment within the
spacecraft. In enclosed environments like the space station, microorganisms
that normally reside on human bodies can more readily spread from person to
person due to their ability to modify their properties. Elevated stress hormone
levels and alterations in the immune system may result in heightened
vulnerability to allergies or other disorders.
High radiation levels can damage Lymphocytes, crucial for immune system
function, leading to reduced immunity and the potential for existing microbes
to cause infection in astronauts. Apart from how the environment
affects immunity, living and working spaces need to be meticulously planned and
developed down to the last detail. Nobody likes to live in a place that is
overly hot, cold, claustrophobic, noisy, or poorly lit, and nobody would want
to work or reside in a space habitat like that either.
So, to face this kind
of challenges in space or any other planet a candidate should be strong &
fit both physically and mentally. Traveling to outer space is a challenge not
only for the mind, but for the body as well. The effects of zero gravity can be
hard on astronaut’s bodies, so, they need to physically train here on Earth,
and once they’re in space too.
1.
Strength
Training
Astronauts need to
practice strength training to keep their muscles and bones strong and working.
Here on Earth, gravity is constantly exerting a force on our muscles. In outer
space, however, there is no gravity. This causes muscles to weaken and
deteriorate over time. On the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts do
strength training for at least an hour every day to prevent their muscles from
breaking down.
2.
Balance
Training
Astronauts also
practice their balance while they’re in space missions. Here on Earth, special
fluids that keep us balanced in our heads are controlled by the forces of
gravity. In space, those fluids are free to float around. This causes
astronauts to experience dizziness, lack of spatial awareness, and difficulty
balancing. On the ISS, astronauts practice coordinated movements to adjust
their brains and bodies to the new conditions. When they return, they must
repeat the process to adjust back to Earth’s gravity.
3.
Cardio
Training
Finally, to maintain the
strength of their heart and lung muscles, astronauts need to train for cardio
and endurance. These muscles are always engaged here on Earth, pumping blood
and oxygen throughout our bodies in opposition to the extra forces of gravity.
Those muscles can weaken over time because there is less gravity in space,
which means they don't need to work as hard. Astronauts run the risk of coming
back to Earth with weak hearts as a result of this. To keep their heart and
lung muscles from weakening, astronauts on the International Space Station
engage in aerobic exercise for at least an hour each day.
Astronauts must be
mentally strong as well. Astronauts need to have focus to anticipate, prevent
or manage any situation that may arise. How they handle an emergency in space
can make the difference between life and death for them and their crewmates.
Astronauts are also required to carry out complex tasks. Following are the
effects of isolation in space:
·
Stress
& Anxiety
·
Fatigue
·
Sleep
problems due to lack of natural light & disrupted sleep cycles
·
Irritability
·
Mood
Swings
·
Sensitivity
& emotional distress
·
Neurobehavioral
system & performance issues because of radiation, carbon dioxide and noise
levels
So, to face such
issues in space astronauts must do some activities which will help them to be
active and positive.
1.
Physical
Activities
Doing exercises by
using different devices each day is key part of astronaut’s physical
activities. Being active and eating well have a positive effect on the mind as
well.
2.
Good
Sleep
A prolonged lack of
sleep can also lead to depression and other illnesses. Astronauts aboard the
ISS see 16 sunrises and sunsets a day. They also suffer from the lack of
natural light, which also affects their sleep cycle. Special LED lighting,
noise cancelling earbuds and sleep masks, cozy sleep pods and relaxation time
built into their schedules help mitigate the risks of bad sleep in space.
3.
Relaxation
& Self Care
Astronauts in space
during their time off, they often relax by watching Earth go by. Some read
books, play an instrument or listen to music. They can connect with loved ones
and spend time writing, meditating or practicing their religious traditions.
4.
Social
Activities
In addition to
technical training, astronauts prepare mentally for space through field
expeditions as a team and individual training sessions. Meals are another great
opportunity to socialize and share different cultures. Crewmembers also gather
to watch a movie, play board games, or celebrate special occasions like
birthdays and holidays.
5.
Environment
Keeping the
spacecraft clean and organized, and following a schedule help create stability.
Just like you decorate your room with items that make you feel good, astronauts
bring photos and objects that remind them of home.
They also very much
like growing plants and vegetables – it boosts morale and provides good
nutrition and fresh oxygen. Some astronauts reported liking the fresh smell of
pine when the crew was growing spruce seedlings for an experiment.
Some other key
factors also there which are following:
a)
Self-care
& Management: Seek
feedback, manage stress, maintain efficiency and good relations
b)
Leadership: Plan and prioritize work, adapt to
leadership styles, lead or support the leader
c)
Teamwork
& Group Living: Balance
personal and crew needs, cooperate, support crewmates
d)
Cross-Cultural: Understand and respect other cultures,
language skills
e)
Communication: Communicate clearly, listen actively
f)
Conflict
Management: Prevent and resolve
disagreements
g)
Situational
Awareness: Process information
efficiently, monitor people, systems and environment
h)
Decision
making & Problem solving: Assess facts, consider different viewpoints and options, evaluate risk
and benefits
Additionally,
astronaut candidate or a person who wants to become an astronaut, must do a
Yoga & Mediation. When you are preparing for astronaut program, you should
do exercise, yoga, meditation, social activities, outing, communication skills,
etc. These skills will help you to face challenges will occur in space. Also,
yoga, meditation and your hobbies always help you to be focused and clam. On
the regular basis, if you will do these activities along with your technical
preparations will surely huge contribution in your astronaut journey.