Long Space Travel Might Be Deadly for Astronauts, Study Says

Category: Science/Environment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. prolonged / prəˈlɔŋd / (adj) – lasting for a long time
    Example:

    Because of the prolonged hot weather, some flowers in our garden have dried.


  2. impairment / ɪmˈpɛər mənt / (n) – the state of being weakened or damaged
    Example:

    My uncle is considering surgery for his liver impairment.


  3. departure / dɪˈpɑr tʃər / (n) – the act of leaving
    Example:

    The manager’s sudden departure brought problems to the company.


  4. stagnant / ˈstæg nənt / (adj) – not flowing
    Example:

    The water in the pond has become stagnant.


  5. mirror / ˈmɪr ər / (v) – to imitate something perfectly
    Example:

    According to the critic, the movie mirrored its director’s life.


Article

Read the text below.

A NASA study has revealed that prolonged exposure to zero gravity can affect how blood flows in astronauts’ bodies.


When astronauts complained about visual impairment after a few months on board the International Space Station (ISS), NASA decided to investigate. NASA looked at how zero gravity affected the circulation of upper body fluids by examining 11 healthy astronauts, aged around 46 years old, who have stayed on board the ISS for an average of 6 months.


Using ultrasound scanning, researchers monitored the astronauts’ left jugular vein, the blood vessel responsible for transporting blood from the head to the heart. Tests were done before the astronauts’ flight, 50 and 150 days since departure, and 40 days after returning to Earth.


Signs of stagnant or reversed blood flow were found in 7 out of the 11 astronauts. Test results also revealed that astronauts’ bodies had difficulty draining fluids normally without the pull of gravity. This could lead to blood clots, which block blood vessels or even lead to death.


Michael Stenger, Cardiovascular and Vision Laboratory manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, was surprised by the findings and the fact that the astronauts did not show any symptoms of blood clotting.


Some experts think that the findings could have serious implications on astronauts’ health and on the success of future space missions. Despite that, the researchers are positive that their study could lead to new developments and treatments to help astronauts in space. One such development is a lower-body vacuum suit currently being tested by NASA. The suit will help distribute blood from the head into the lower body, mirroring gravity’s effect.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• After learning the study’s findings, do you think NASA should still push through with its long-term space missions? Why or why not?
• Do you think the study’s findings will discourage people who aspire to become astronauts? Why or why not?

Discussion B

• Aside from the risk mentioned in the article, what other risks do you associate with space exploration? Discuss.
• Do you think the knowledge we gain from space exploration outweighs the risks associated with it? Explain.