Can they come down with a virus in space? What happens on the space station if they get a virus or disease? I assume they are checked thoroughly before they are sent.
2007-04-09 07:49:13 · 7 answers · asked by Keith S 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The astronauts can conceivably come down with an infection in space, although they are medically screened before they leave Earth to try to prevent this possibility.
In the past astronauts have become sick in space for various reasons. One of the first problems was motion sickness. Not a problem in the tight confines of the Mercury or Gemini capsules, but it did become significant in Apollo, where the astronauts had room to move around. The Russians in their larger Vostok capsules had already encountered the problem. During the Apollo 7 flight the crew all came down with head colds, although there is some dispute as to whether this was due to a virus or simply to fluid collection in the weightless environment. During Apollo 8 Frank Borman suffered a bad reaction to a sleeping tablet that resulted in vomiting and diarrhoea: not fun in zero gravity! On Apollo 9 Rusty Schweickart suffered severe motion sickness that resulted in a planned spacewalk being postponed and heavily curtailed.
Apollo 13 saw Fred Haise come down with an infection. The reason for this was accumulation of toxins in his body due to not drinking enough water. After the accident water was a precious commodity. Not only was it used by the astronauts for drinking but it also was essential for cooling the electronics. Whilst most of the electronics had been turned off to conserve power, there were some that were critical, therefore the cooling water was still needed by the spacecraft as well as the crew. Also, dumping urine overboard caused a minor deviation in the flight trajectory, so the crew were storing it inside the craft in waste bags. To reduce the volume of urine they reduced their water intake. The result of this in Haise's case was an inability to remove toxins from his bloodstream, and as a result he came down with an infection.
As far as current spaceflight is concerned, the crew will be thoroughly screened prior to flight. If they do get sick in space they are unlikely to have anything very serious, and are in a very effective quarantine.
2007-04-09 10:55:02 · answer #1 · answered by Jason T 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Sick Space
2016-12-14 13:22:10 · answer #2 · answered by mcginnes 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can get sick. One example was aboard Apollo 13. One of the astronauts became very sick.
They are checked prior to departure but there is a stage in infection where it is not easily (or at all) detectable.
2007-04-09 07:53:21 · answer #3 · answered by danl747 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, one of the Apollo 13 astronauts came down with a high fever and flu like symptoms.
2007-04-09 07:52:52 · answer #4 · answered by Gene 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It sounds disgusting if you're not used to the idea. But chemically, pure water is pure water and as they say, it's probably purer than some of the stuff you get from city water supplies. It's just shortening a cycle that happens already in nature. Water on earth is continuously recycled, mostly by evaporation and then becoming rain. Edited: Yes, and how does the water get into those rivers and aquifers? Rain? Where does the water in rain come from? Where does the water go that leaves an organism as waste in whatever form, including sweat?
2016-03-17 22:27:46 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the astronomers sent to the International space station are supposed to be very healthy, fit and active. yes, they are checked thoroughly before they are sent up as are all astronauts, including the ones who went to the moon in the past.
however, due to freezing temperatures in spaceships (due to shutting down of heating to save energy) astronauts can get a flue or cold. if u watch the movie- apollo 13, one of the astronauts got very sick because the heating had been shut off. the spaceship got so cold, there were icicles on the walls. the movie is based on the real apollo 13 story so i assume its true.
2007-04-09 08:44:36 · answer #6 · answered by amandac 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Not only that...but they often can get "airsick" just like airplane passengers can. This is an ongoing problem for some astronauts, although most of them overcome it with time.
2007-04-09 07:57:44 · answer #7 · answered by Bruce D 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They dont.Astronauts are trained and ensured free from any kind of diseases before the leave to space.Once a person goes into space,his age will also stop.I mean he wont be old.
2007-04-09 08:29:32 · answer #8 · answered by Shemale L 1 · 0⤊ 4⤋