APS member and astronaut Jessica Meir, PhD, works in a microgravity environment on the International Space Station. Credit: NASA If I asked you where is up and where is down, you would most likely be able to identify it. This is because the Earth’s gravitational pull on your body makes it easier for you to … Continue reading What Happens to Astronauts’ Bodies in Space?
Space
You Don’t Have to Leave the Stratosphere to Feel Like You’ve Been in Space
Astronaut Scott Kelly came back from 340 days in space two inches taller. Along with height, many aspects of the body change because of the weightlessness environment of space. The body loses muscle, heart and bone mass because it no longer has to support itself as it does on Earth. There is also no feeling … Continue reading You Don’t Have to Leave the Stratosphere to Feel Like You’ve Been in Space
Rebalancing the Balance System
Walking heel-to-toe in a straight line is not much of a test if our balance faculties are intact. However, it is a tough task for astronauts just returning to Earth. Many astronauts say they feel unsteady when they come back to gravity after being in the weightlessness environment of space. How does balance depend on … Continue reading Rebalancing the Balance System