health
Ten days in space: what happens to the bodies of the Artemis II astronauts
Artemis II culminated with a perfect splashdown of the capsule carrying the four astronauts, who today mark a historic milestone with a new beginning towards man's next journey to the moon.
TL;DR
- Microgravity causes fluid shifts in the body, leading to Space Adaptation Syndrome with symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, headaches, and disorientation.
- Increased blood flow to the brain can cause capillaries to swell, potentially leading to blurred vision and edema.
- Astronauts can lose up to 20% of muscle mass and 1-2% of bone mass in just two weeks.
- Space radiation can cause DNA changes equivalent to 10 full-body X-rays, with doses around 10-20 millisieverts.
- These physical changes are expected to revert to initial states in the days following the mission.