Every day it becomes more and more obvious that sooner or later a new space race will lead to the fact that humanity will leave the same mother Earth. Whether we like it or not, space travel will become an integral part of our future. More precisely, ours is unlikely with you, but our grandchildren and great-grandchildren are quite possible. However, before you start packing your bags, it would be wise to know what effects space has on the human body. We have already examined almost every point in this article more than once or twice separately, but we are talking about very serious things. And in such matters it is better to be one hundred percent prepared in advance. And running ahead, I can only say one thing: I didn't really want to …
Space adaptation syndrome
Without Earth's gravity putting pressure on the human body, you could develop space sickness, also known as space adaptation syndrome. In terms of symptoms, it is similar to motion sickness, but at the same time headache, disorientation, constant discomfort, dizziness, nausea, and sometimes vomiting are added here. About half of those people who have flown into space have experienced this syndrome, so you will definitely not be the first or the last here. Once your body adapts to zero gravity, things will work out. The good news is that, statistically, this syndrome lasts only a few days, so pull yourself together and try not to get vomit all over the place.
Believe me, vomiting in space is much worse than you might imagine. And if it so happened that you need to put on a spacesuit, then before that, be sure to use a special plaster against motion sickness. Vomiting in space isn't fun at all. Vomiting in space can kill you. Imagine you have an aquarium on your head with a vacuum tube attached to supply air. Now imagine that you vomited into this aquarium. Firstly, you will not see anything, and secondly, there is a chance to simply drown in what your body brought to light.
What does it smell like?
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If you think that once in outer space, your nose will not have to taste its very specific smell, then you are mistaken. It would seem that there is no air in space. The airless space cannot contain any aromas. So what could space smell like? What can emptiness smell like? According to the flying people, space smells of fried steak, flavored with burning metal and gunpowder. According to some Russian cosmonauts, space stinks of a burnt dump. American astronaut Donald Roy Pettit once said that the adjective “metallic” would be the best description of the cosmic smell.
Of course, it is absolutely impossible to smell space in its natural form and environment, therefore, a person can feel the whole gamut of surrounding aromas only in the atmosphere of a spacecraft, for example, while in a spaceship or on board an orbital station. But smells come from somewhere, right?
Experts say that the smell can be caused by anything that can create it inside an enclosed space: upholstery, appliances, food, waste, human sweat and skin, as well as all kinds of combustion products as a result of force majeure situations such as a fire or a breakdown of the air conditioning system … In addition, an indescribable aroma can be brought with you directly from outer space, especially if the astronaut happened to work nearby with the ship's engines. In this case, tar-like exhaust residues remain on the spacesuit, which is very difficult to get rid of.
Get ready to lose your nails
Peeling nails have proven to be a very common problem among astronauts. In a recent study, 22 astronauts reported losing their nails completely. So be sure to have your nail clippers ready before your flight, unless you are one of those people who like to nibble on them.
Your spacesuit's bulky gloves can block free blood flow to your fingers. Because of this, tissue death occurs, and the pressure exerted on your nails can lead to the fact that you will lose them. I think there is no need to explain the pain that you experience from the loss of nails. Believe it or not, there were cases when astronauts, in the absence of an alternative, deliberately removed their nails in advance, if the plan was an EVA.
You can stop snoring
Living in space, you will stop snoring at night (if, of course, you snored on Earth before). Thanks to the reduced effect of gravity on your respiratory system, there is a significant reduction in various sleep problems. As a result, you will become at least 20 percent less annoying to your neighbors.
Although some percentage of gravity will still work on your uvula and soft palate, the effect that causes these soft tissues to vibrate involuntarily will be significantly reduced and you will stop snoring.
Vision problems
After spending a very long time in space, your vision will start to become blurry. The back of the eyeball will begin to change, acquiring a flatter shape, some changes await your retina. Of the 300 astronauts who have been in space before you, about 23 percent have had vision problems on short flights and about 49 percent on long flights. If we ever migrate to other planets, then about half of us will experience similar vision problems. And believe me, this is just the most insignificant "trouble" that will await us. We have not yet reached cosmic radiation …
When you are in a weightless state, fluids from your body begin to rush into your upper body, resulting in increased intracranial pressure, which begins to press on your optic nerves. Just a little bit. Of course, you shouldn't worry too much, after all, many astronauts have to experience this for many years. But the effect is at least unpleasant. By the way, in some cases so-called visual artifacts (glare, flickering, "flies") can be observed. In general, for many of us, a long space journey can turn into a real rave party.
Muscle problems
When you are in space, the only way you can move through space is by hovering. You seem to be swimming. Since now you do not need a fulcrum for movement, your lower limbs will begin to suffer from this. The bone strength of your lower limbs will begin to decline. Changes await your muscular system. In some cases, atrophy is generally possible. In addition, there is the possibility that the size of your heart will decrease, as the stress on it while you are in microgravity will be significantly reduced.
You will get higher
Some of you would probably like to be taller. Well, at least a few centimeters? Your dream can come true as soon as you go into space. A very low pressure acts on the vertebra under microgravity conditions, from which it literally begins to stretch. As a result, your height may increase by about 5 centimeters. But don't worry. Once you are back in Earth's gravity, your back will shrink to its normal size.
If you find yourself overboard without a spacesuit, you're finished
Let's imagine for a moment that during your space travels, by some accident you had to find yourself in open space without a spacesuit and a nearby spacecraft. What will happen to your body? Due to the lack of pressure in space, after about 10 seconds all the fluids in your body will begin to boil and evaporate. After about 15 seconds, all oxygen in your circulatory system is completely used up. You can live in space in this state for a maximum of two minutes, until the damage to your body turns out to be critical. True, you can only live these two minutes if you do not breathe. Because as soon as you do it, the air remaining in your lungs will cause them to expand and then just rip apart. Therefore, if you really find yourself in such a situation, then the first thing you need to do is exhale. You may live a few seconds longer. But that's not all.
You will also find other "bonuses" in the form of boiling saliva on your tongue, sunburn and decompression sickness. Despite the fact that in space the temperature can be both extremely high and extremely low, your body will not turn into ice. At least as soon as it is shown in science fiction films. First, you will dry completely under the influence of cosmic radiation. There is no need to be afraid of decomposition, since there are no bacteria in the space environment. Then, over time and depending on the temperature, your body will completely freeze or mummify.
Cosmic radiation
People aboard the International Space Station are exposed daily to radiation levels ten times higher than normal on Earth. People on Earth are protected from cosmic radiation by the atmosphere of our planet. Without it, among other things, there is an increased risk of damage to our nervous system, which can result in "impaired cognitive functions, reduced motor functions and changes in our behavior." In addition, cosmic radiation can cause radiation sickness, the symptoms of which are nausea, vomiting, anorexia and constant fatigue.
Unfortunately, science has not yet come up with an uncompromising protection against the effects of cosmic radiation. However, its constant exposure can ultimately lead to the development of cancer and other chronic diseases. This is just one of those facts that you just need to come to terms with if you still want to ever leave this blue ball.
Cosmic euphoria
Some astronauts reported that during their space missions they experienced the so-called "feeling of epiphany", insight, euphoria. For example, NASA astronaut Charles Duke once said:
“I was just overwhelmed by the feeling of what seemed to me to be part of the omnipresence of God … I just caught my breath. Tears came out. It was the deepest feeling I have experienced in my life."
Observing the beauty of the Earth from the Apollo 14 spacecraft, astronaut Edgar Mitchell reported a feeling of deep calmness and euphoria that visited him. He talked about how he experiences a change in the state of his consciousness and gains an understanding of the meaning of the Universe itself and each of its atoms in isolation from matter.
Eugene Cernan, another NASA astronaut, described his feeling of epiphany as follows:
“It was too awesome to be described as random. At this moment, you feel that, besides you, me, him, her, us, there is something that is above everything else. I say this in a spiritual sense, not a religious one."
Rusty Schweikart felt like "is a part of everything and everyone in this world," and noted that "this metamorphosis of consciousness affects all your fibers so much that you turn into a living lump of sensations."
Finding himself in this state, Schweikart described our Earth:
“This tiny amazing Earth. The planet that allows us to live, gives us everything that we have: the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, the beauty of all this nature. Everything in it is so perfectly balanced and organized so that we can live here. How amazingly beautiful she is."
Nikolay Khizhnyak
