The magnetosphere continues to shield the I.S.S., which is why only the 24 astronauts who flew in the Apollo program have gone beyond it, as the moon orbits an average of over 238,000 miles away. These astronauts have experienced a rate of cardiovascular disease four to five times higher than their counterparts who stayed in low Earth orbit, providing evidence that exposure to cosmic radiation may have caused damage to their circulatory system.
Progress has been hindered by small sample sizes and a lack of demographic diversity among the astronauts. Space tourism offers opportunities to study the effects of radiation and low gravity on a much broader demographic. The goal is to gather essential knowledge to understand how the human body adapts to hostile environments. This will be valuable for future space exploration, as learning from both healthy and unhealthy individuals provides insights into preventing health issues.
Similar to Earth, aerospace medicine faces challenges in protecting the population. An increase in space tourism raises the chances of health emergencies in space, highlighting the need for expertise in preventative medicine. Furthermore, as with any expedition into the unknown, there will be uncertainties until experiences are encountered.
Scientists once speculated that humans couldn’t survive without Earth’s gravity, but Yuri Gagarin’s trip around the Earth proved otherwise. Although space adaptation syndrome initially causes nausea and discomfort, astronauts eventually acclimate to the experience.
