Can Humans Live Long in Space? Here's What Experts Say

The creation of a worldwide database on the long-term health repercussions of spaceflight is being pushed for by space medical experts.

However, scientists stated it is challenging to comprehend the long-term effects of space exploration missions on human health.

Collecting Medical Data From Astronauts, Space Travelers Needed

Only a small number of people, according to Space.com, have ever been exposed to the conditions in space.

In addition, monitoring a crew member's health and medical condition for years after the mission is over is necessary to understand long-term health effects.

This is especially true for dangers that are "chronic/degenerative," such as radiation-induced cancers that may take years to manifest fully.

In conclusion, it is critical to begin collecting medical data from space travelers, given that there have only been little more than 500 human flights into space and a rising number of ISS workers are international.

It is time to create a global database on the long-term impacts of spaceflight on health. A new article in the journal Acta Astronautica, per Space.com, makes such an argument.

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About NASA's LSAH

NASA established Lifetime Surveillance of Astronaut Health (LSAH) program as an operational initiative inside the space agency after medical data collection on astronauts changed. Use the abbreviation LSAH.

According to Bloomfield, NASA's LSAH constantly gathers data on former American and Canadian space crew members.

NASA's current standards pointed out that "there is no way to avoid medical privacy risks," Bloomfield stated. Dedicated researchers can obtain those data, but several restrictions are placed on collecting supplementary data (e.g., sex, dietary intake, exercise time, and pre-existing conditions).

By gathering information directly from retired crew members and cutting out the "middle man" of physician/hospital records managers, the purpose of assessing the efficacy of a personal health record application was to expedite the data collection process, according to Bloomfield.

Bonus: How Long Could a Human Live Without Spacesuit in Space?

Business Insider said you'll lose consciousness after around 15 seconds. You'll suffocate to death 90 seconds after being exposed. Space is also incredibly chilly. Eventually, you'll turn to solid ice.

Depending on your location in space, this will take between 12 and 26 hours. But if you are close to a star, you will be burned to a crisp instead. Your body will stay that way in either case for a very long period.

You will begin to rot from the inside out due to gut bacteria, albeit this process won't last long. For millions of years, you may be stationary in space. Who knows, maybe a technologically advanced extraterrestrial species may find you!