I may not be Neil Armstrong or Yuri Gagarin, and I have no hope of becoming an astronaut in the future, but the experience of traveling to space for recreational purposes has become available for me and others who love adventure, as it has become a commercial reality in the 21st century. The first space tourism trips were limited to those funding these adventures, traveling aboard the Russian "Soyuz" to the International Space Station (ISS) in the early 2000s, with the first being American Dennis Tito, whose space outing cost him $20 million in 2001.
Let’s assume that such a huge amount is available, and I traveled days away from this planet. Can my body endure this semi-cosmic transition, knowing that astronauts undergo countless tests before being sent on a shuttle or any other spacecraft? The answer comes from a study published by the Associated Press, citing the scientific journal "Nature," which states that space tourists experience some of the same bodily changes that astronauts who spend months in orbit face. This study included four space tourists, and the results showed their adaptation to zero gravity and cosmic radiation significantly until they returned to Earth.
The study analyzed samples of blood, saliva, and skin collected from the four tourists during their trip aboard SpaceX's "Inspiration 4" spacecraft, revealing significant transformations in their cells and impacts on their immunity. Despite the wide-ranging changes that the study showed, they returned to their normal stability after their return to Earth, which reassured researchers about the "temporariness" of the damages that human bodies incur during short space flights.
These findings underscore the need to continue exploring and researching the impact of space on human health, which contributes to the development of new technologies to ensure human safety during future space travels. Studies also indicate that short space travel may provide opportunities for further medical and scientific research that could help develop new treatments for diseases and injuries on Earth, reinforcing the need to boost investment in this important area for the future.
Finally, space tourism is an exciting step toward the future, but it requires consideration of the significant health impacts that may affect tourists. A deep understanding of these effects and the development of preventive measures can help make these journeys safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
