Effects Of Space Travel On Humans

Press, Volume C, Issue 29502, 2 May 1961, Page 12

Effects Of Space Travel On Humans

“The Press" Special Service

AUCKLAND, May 1. Weightlessness and the design of a practical space suit are the two main problems facing scientists considering space travel, according to Dr. F. C. Platts, who recently attended an aero-space medical conference in the United States, Addressing the Auckland branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society, he said that short space flights of up to four hours had never provided difficulties, but longer flights created the problems, and it was not yet possible to simulate complete weightlessness on the earth. In weightlessness the brain would be deprived of all but visible stimuli, said Dr. Platts, because the inner ear and the nerves of the leg muscles depended on gravity for sensation.

Thus, it would be extremely difficult to sleep until complete exhaustion was reached, although the problem might be overcome by strapping an astronaut to a couch. The skin would then have the sensation of something against it. Circulation

Blood flow and its effect on the circulatory system created an interesting problem, said Dr. Platts. With minima muscular movement and exercise, the astronaut might be unable to stand or walk by the time he reached Mars. Weightlessness would affect the action of the bladder in that the astronaut would not have the familiar urge sensation, although he could pass water. Fortunately eating and drinking did not present any problems, said Dr. Platts.

“What would happen to a baby born in the condition of weightlessness?” asked Dr. Platts. “This highly

hypothetical zero ‘g’ baby, brought into the earth’s gravity after several years of floating, would probably learn first to swim and later to walk.

“Thus, it would follow the development pattern in paleontology. A similar course in the development of movement is observed in polio-affected babies.” “Hard Vacuum”

Interplanetary space was an extremely hard vacuum, said Dr. Platts. It contained about 16 atoms of matter, mostly hydrogen, a cubic inch, and about one dust par. tide for each 10 cubic yards. It also contained some meteoric material, electromagnetic rays and, from the sun and galaxies, particle rays made up of fragments of atoms. Adequate shielding from all these things would be required.

The space traveller would need some kind of space map for choosing the safest routes and times.

A pressurised space suit seriously reduced efficiency, said Dr. Platts. Requirements made it certain that present knowledge .nd technology were quite insufficient for the design of a practical space suit.

Pilots of U-2 aircraft were processed for two hours to make their bodies nitrogen free and then they had to be carried to their machines because of the space suits Temporary scientific ex. peditions to the moon, with even a permanent base, were within the bounds of realistic medical thinking. Flights of inter-stellar dimensions were at present not conceivable, said Dr. Platts. The operational range of space vehicles would almost certainly, at least for a cen. tury or so, be confined to the celestial bodies of the home solar system.