do astronauts get illnesses specific to space travel?

Answer 1

When the shuttle (or Soyuz) is launched, after they reach orbit, and for about the first 6 hours,all but the most experienced astronauts/cosmonauts spend that time puking their guts out while they become accustom to weightlessness. That's why you'll rarely see the first few hours of a shuttle mission in a highlight video.

Before the special treadmill and special zero-g 'weights' (a modified Bowflex type of exercise equipment) were installed on the ISS, after a 6-month mission some of the astronauts/cosmonauts had to be carted away on a wheelchair, after landing, because they couldn't walk on their own, due to major loss of bone density.

Those are the major 2 things. Puking is temporary (except in rare cases), bone loss is a major on-going problem that must be solved if 'we' want to go to Mars (with current rocket technology, anyway).

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Answer 2

I see some interesting answers here but to answer your (not stupid) questions specifically I will get right to the point. We could easily send manned flights to any of the planets in our solar system. We do have the technology. Inbound toward the sun will not happen for reasons already cited by other answers (too hot). A Mars expedition is, in fact, on the books for NASA within this century. The trip will take nearly a year both ways with a six month stay. The actual space craft will be built in orbit around the moon and launch from there. Artificial gravity using a rotary centrifugal living space along with special exercises will be used to keep the astronauts from losing muscle and bone mass. Food and water will of course have to be recycled and grown (even so, the risk of starvation and dehydration are dangerously high). Voyager 2 is traveling at 3.3 AU per year (a little over 17,000 kph) which is actually a little slow even by our limited standards. But, even so, a new fuel/propulsion system that is much faster would be needed to consider travel beyond Mars. A visit to Alpha Centauri (~2.3 trillion miles) at 30 thousand mph would take nearly 77 million years (one way). You see the problem there I'm sure. he·li·o·pause (hē'lē-ə-pôz') n. The area in which the outgoing solar wind and the incoming plasma from interstellar space meet. It is the boundary of our solar system. There is much more to tell but I am sure there is a limit. Never stop asking your questions!

Answer 3

Yes they certainley do. Nausea from weightlessness, Oxygen enrichment of the blood streat can give a lot of problems, dry air inside the cabin can give skin problems.
There have been recorded cases on Apollo 12 and 13. Skylab and Shuttle Missions. Unknown about the Russian side, but especially with the extra long MIR missions (some up to a year in length) there must have been some problems

Answer 4

Yes, they do!
Most of them are caused by the zero gravity environment. The most pervasive is the fact that their muscles atrophy. Our bodies are used to support our weight against gravity and this keeps our muscles toned and constantly working.
The reason you always see interviews with the Astronauts seated after a long time in space, is because their muscles have weakened to the point where thay cannot walk anymore and it takes them a while to get their muscles back in shape. They do try to exercise in space, but are only able to do this to a very limited degree.

Adolph

Answer 5

They can suffer from bone structure deterioration over long amounts of time in space. So on the ISS where you might stay for 6 months you might lose a huge percentage of the strength of your skeleton.
Its easily conteracted though with specially modified gyms. ALl you need do is go fo a run on a treadmill regularly and there will be long term effects. You are strapped down on the treadmill with straps that are like suspender straps.

Answer 6

Yes, it's called space sickness.
Motion sickness caused by sustained weightlessness during space flight, usually accompanied by disturbance of the inner ear.

Answer 7

Hello. Only coming back as going up keeps the sick in the guts but when returning it is head first and they cannot keep the sick in they was the first people to use sick bags.

Answer 8

Big Mac withdrawal.

Answer 9

yep they do. some of the diseases are born related bcz of the lack of exercise as well as a lack of enough calcium intake

Answer 10

Rocket lag.

Rocket sickness.