2d ago

Astronauts' eyes weaken during long space missions, raising concerns for Mars travel

phys.org Astronauts' eyes weaken during long space missions, raising concerns for Mars travel

The low levels of gravity (microgravity) in space cause significant changes in astronauts' eyes and vision after six to 12 months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), according to a study published in the IEEE Open Journal of Engineering in Medicine and Biology.

19 comments

That's been known for a long time. What we don't know is what reduced gravity will do. We really need a space station that can simulate martian and lunar gravity.
- I can't wait until we have our first rotating space station. Both Space Development Corporation and Vast Space have announced plans, but it will probably be another five to ten years until they start bending metal for the hardware.

I kinda assumed any Mars mission would include some simple centrifugal pod. Seems like even if it's just for sleeping it would be useful.
- Have a 2x Earth gravity exercise room. Make Mars an MXC series.
  
  Goku would like a word

There used to be explorers in the world -- people who would accept the risks (known or unknown) and push forward anyway. This is one of those moments.
As a one-time astronaut candidate that failed to be selected... I'd still go.
- If the time frame you will be required to be out in space exceeds the time it will take for your eyesight to degrade to a point where it hinders you physically being able to do your work, then that is a problem you can't just soldier through. There will have to be some sort of solution to this.
  
  Yes, but we won't know what that timeframe is until we send enough people (or animals or whatever) to discover this.

how is this news?
- It's interesting and worth retelling shrugs news

19 comments