![]() ![]() On the other hand, a lowered metabolism means the body may not repair itself as quickly, so radiation damage might be more profound, Derleth says. So torpor might give astronauts added protection during spaceflight. And there’s evidence that animals are less vulnerable to radiation during hibernation. While hibernating, animals don’t suffer muscle atrophy or bone degeneration from lack of use, although it’s not clear why. “If you’re in a small tin can with the same other three people for nine months and you can’t really move about the cabin…it may actually be that sleeping for 14 days is the preferred way to go,” says Jason Derleth, program executive of NIAC. It might also be more pleasant for the astronauts. Torpor could help fit more people on smaller ships to help rapidly populate space colonies. Shipping anything into space is incredibly expensive because of added fuel costs for each extra pound, so a smaller spaceship would be a huge advantage. If the crew could spend most of the flight in torpor, they would need less food and could occupy a smaller living space. Putting astronauts into a hibernation-like state could help with some of these problems. ![]() And our bodies will be bombarded with cosmic rays and face numerous health issues caused by low gravity, including loss of bone density and muscle mass. We also need room to move around and tend to chafe at sharing cramped quarters for long periods. On a voyage to deep space, humans will be more demanding cargo than a rover or satellite. And torpor could help us here on Earth, too. Astronauts could also spare their physical and mental health. If these projects are successful, ships could be more compact and more sparsely equipped, making them less expensive to propel through space. Instead of being frozen in time, though, astronauts could be knocked out for weeks or months in a state called torpor that resembles hibernation. But scientists and engineers are collaborating with NASA and other space agencies to develop suspended animation projects for missions to Mars and beyond. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |