Space trip can impact astronaut's biology, says new studies on spaceflight health

Astronaut in Space (Representative Image - Canva)

Three days of time spent by astronauts in space can impact their biology according to new studies that reveal and explain briefly about space health.  There are around 600 people that have travelled to space till now.

This research can help the astronauts on how to stay healthy in space and while they are returning back to Earth. According to the studies it is revealed that telomere length (a crucial marker of cellular ageing) can be affected by space travel.

Our chromosomes' protective caps, or telomeres, are linked to longevity and general health based on how long they are. The telomere length is shortened during spaceflight, potentially having an impact on an astronaut's long-term health.

In today's time, there are commercial, private and multinational space organizations that are providing the spaceflights that are contributing to the expansion of the spaceflight industry.

In the coming future technological advancement and the planned Moon mission will result in more space travel including space tourism. While this thing happens, it reveals how some people react to space travel since both women and men from different races, ethnicities and genders will involved.

There were investigations done by NASA and a study on this was released named NASA Twins Study, in this study a groundbreaking investigation was conducted by NASA’s Human Research Program (HRP) which aimed at physiological, molecular, and cognitive changes resulting from exposure to spaceflight.

During this investigation identical twin astronauts, Scott Kelly who spent time in Space and Mark Kelly who spent time on Earth, made the scientists understand the difference in their biology when the tests were run on them.

It helps in gaining insights into the long-duration impact of space missions on astronauts' bodies and how the human body responds in space. Susan Bailey, Colorado State University Fort Collins, has done this research and released the research paper in the Nature Journals. The majority of research on the hazards that space travel poses to human health consists of about 30 studies conducted by 200 scientists worldwide.

Six important molecular alterations are identified by the investigations as potentially having a major effect on astronaut health. Comprehending these alterations is essential for becoming ready for future long-duration space missions to the moon and Mars.

There are side effects of travelling in space as it can cause DNA damage, gene regulation and more. Spaceflight can challenge the body on a cellular and molecular level.

Understanding the biological effects of being in space is crucial as the space venture will grow more in future and it is becoming more important to maintain astronaut well-being during and after their space journey.