New Research Reveals the Effects of Space Travel on Space Tourists   

• New research reveals that space tourists experience some of the physiological changes astronauts display after long periods in orbit. The research is part of a series of studies on the health effects of space travel published in Nature journals. A three-day SpaceX flight, dubbed Inspiration4, in 2021 allowed researchers to observe the physiological responses to space travel. Researchers examined biological samples collected from four space tourists before, during, and after their space trip. Analyses of biological samples showed that while the tourists exhibited changes to the cells and immune system, most of the shifts returned to normal in the months the four were back on Earth. These findings provide new insight into how people without extensive astronaut training adapt to the conditions in space. Allen Liu, a mechanical engineering professor at the University of Michigan, highlighted the importance of this study in preparing humans for future space missions. While NASA has extensively studied astronauts’ health, there has been less focus on space tourists. Chris Mason of Weill Cornell Medicine described this study as the first detailed cell-by-cell examination of a space crew. The findings could help reduce the harms of space travel and ensure the safety of future space tourists. Sean Jung Director junior/1720599832/1613368089