The odd effects a year in space has on the bodies of astronauts

NASA astronaut Frank Rubio learned the hard way the odd effects a year in space has on the human body.

Rubio spent over a year in space, and he actually set a record in the process.

When he came back, he talked about the long list of side effects you have to take into account as a NASA astronaut.

And what he had to say about it was interesting, to say the least.

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NASA astronaut Frank Rubio accidentally set a new record for the longest time spent in space.

He didn’t do it on purpose.

His mission was supposed to last around six months, but there was a coolant leak in the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft he was in, which means he ended up spending 371 days in space.

Upon his return, in September 2023, he found out the hard way what a year in space does to your body.

Ordinarily, we’d say he finally ‘set foot’ on Earth after a year, but on this occasion, this would be inaccurate.

This is because after living in microgravity for over a year, Rubio needed time to relearn how to walk.

This is the first and perhaps most disconcerting consequence of a year in space.

It must feel scary to realize you can’t walk anymore.

But the good news is this is just temporary, and astronauts are perfectly capable of walking again within a few weeks or months.

The absence of Earth’s gravity also causes a decrease in muscle mass and bone density.

Dr. Jennifer Fogarty, a doctor from Baylor College who works with NASA, said the biggest changes in bone and muscle loss occur in the first couple of months of a mission.

After the first few months, the body adjusts to the new conditions, and things get better.

“How do you coordinate movement like walking, which you haven’t done for a long period of time, and then the idea of balance? When you put those two together, it can create a precarious situation,” Dr. Fogarty said.

Furthermore, she explained how your blood flow changes when living in weightless microgravity, which can cause eye swelling or blurry vision.

In addition to physical changes, which are generally temporary, astronauts also have to deal with psychological effects that come from being isolated for an extended period of time.

Psychologically, the biggest issue is sensory deprivation, which can cause anxiety and sleep loss.

Dr. Fogarty essentially said that the best possible cure is prevention, as astronauts need to prepare for everything, from the simple act of walking to learning how to sleep in space.

As in, the best thing NASA can do is make sure astronauts are well-trained and prepared because, if they are, it’ll be a lot easier to deal with these unpleasant, albeit temporary, side effects.