Astronauts become as weak as 80-year-olds in space
August 19th, 2010 - 8:15 pm ICT by IANSLondon, Aug 19 (IANS) The US researchers have found that astronauts in the prime of life, spending months in space, become as weak as 80-year-olds.
The researchers made the discovery after examining muscle tissues of crew members on the International Space Station (ISS).
The calf biopsy samples revealed that after six months in space, the physical work capacity of astronauts fell by 40 percent, reports the Daily Telegraph.
This was equivalent to the muscles of an astronaut aged 30 to 50 years wasting away to the level of an average 80-year-old, according to the Journal of Physiology.
The deterioration occurred despite crew members taking to regular exercise in the space station. The ISS is equipped with two treadmills and an exercise cycle.
Scientists fear the effects of extended weightlessness on skeletal muscle will pose a significant safety risk for future manned Mars missions.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) estimates that it would take a crew 10 months to reach Mars. With a one year stay, a mission could take as long as three years.
Robert Fitts from the Marquette University in Wisconsin, who led the study, and his team wrote: “The main findings were that prolonged weightlessness produced substantial loss of fibre mass, force and power.”
Fitts believes if astronauts tried to travel to Mars today, they would have trouble performing even routine work in a space suit.
The most affected muscles, such as the calf, could weaken by as much as 50 percent.
Nine American astronauts and Russian cosmonauts were tested before and after spending 180 days on the International Space Station.
- Long space travel results in astronauts' muscles loss - Aug 18, 2010
- Voyage to Mars Would Dangerously Weaken Astronauts Muscles - Aug 20, 2010
- Mars Voyage Certain To Cause Weakening Of Muscles - Aug 20, 2010
- Mars voyage would wither the muscles of the astronauts - Aug 20, 2010
- Russian cosmonauts take a six-hour spacewalk - Feb 17, 2012
- Three ISS crew to return to earth - Mar 29, 2012
- Russian spacecraft undocks from ISS - Nov 22, 2011
- Space station crew lands in Kazakhstan - Apr 27, 2012
- New space station crew in orbit - May 15, 2012
- Mars Voyage Could Lead To Dangerously Weak Muscles - Aug 20, 2010
- Space station crew land safely in Kazakhstan (Lead) - Nov 22, 2011
- Russian space agency names next crew to ISS - Oct 25, 2011
- Astronauts need more intense workouts to maintain muscle fitness in space - Apr 03, 2009
- Exercise helps astronauts protect heart in space - Mar 23, 2012
- Russia confirms new crew members for ISS - Apr 26, 2012
Tags: american astronauts, biopsy samples, daily telegraph, exercise cycle, international space station, journal of physiology, manned mars missions, marquette university, muscle tissues, national aeronautics and space, national aeronautics and space administration, national aeronautics and space administration nasa, prime of life, robert fitts, routine work, russian cosmonauts, safety risk, space station iss, space suit, weightlessness