Mars Voyage Could Lead To Dangerously Weak Muscles
August 20th, 2010 - 7:03 pm ICT by GDBy Meena Kar
Aug 20, (THAINDIAN NEWS) A recent study has revealed that astronauts to plan to undertake a 10 month journey to Mars will face extreme muscle strength loss and will land on the red planet with the strength of an 80 year old. The study has explained that the astronauts between the age of 30 to 50 will become unable to move around on Mars in the space suits to the loss of body strength. They will also be unable to do the most basic things due to the weakness, according to the study. The weakness will also hamper the chances of a safe journey back to earth after the voyage.
The research was led by Robert Fitts who studied the tissue of the calf muscles of several astronauts before and after their six month stay at the International Space Station. The samples taken 45 days before the launch and on the day of the return of the astronauts to earth showed a significant loss in muscle atrophy due to lack of gravity. The loss of fiber mass, force and power led to at least40% decline in the astronaut’s capacity for physical work.
Another interesting fact noted by the scientist was that the size of the muscles were also related to the decline in the muscle strength. It was observed that the astronauts who decided to beef up before the journey had the maximum decline in the muscles. According to calculations by some of the experts, a two way trip to Mars would take approximately three years including a one year stay on the planet. This could lead to loss of as much as 50% of the strength in the large muscles of the astronauts such as the calf.
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Tags: astronaut, astronauts, body strength, calf muscles, decline, extreme muscle, interesting fact, international space station, journey to mars, kar, launch, mars voyage, muscle atrophy, muscle strength, red planet, robert fitts, safe journey, space suits, strength loss, trip to mars