Initially, only a few lucky professional astronauts could travel to space. Further, the astronauts were only hired and trained by various government agencies for space missions. Things changed in the 2000s when seven tourists paid millions of dollars to spend a few days in the International Space Station (ISS). We are now in a new space exploration era. Many commercial space companies like Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic are building spacecraft that can take tourists to space and back to the Earth’s surface.
One of the questions that space tourists ask after deciding to buy a ticket to space is how the human body responds to the space environment. While you might continue swallowing food as usual when traveling to space, your digestive system may have challenges. Space travel companies have taken many precautions to make every travel to space safe and enjoyable.
How Space Travel Affects the Gut
The human body experiences serious effects when subjected to zero gravity. While most studies focused more on the effects of microgravity on the human immune system, it has emerged that space travelers are likely to suffer gastrointestinal system problems. After the human body is subjected to microgravity, the intestinal barriers weaken therefore compromising the properties of the intestines. As a result, bacteria like salmonella enter the body through the gut walls and cause diseases.
Researchers further claim that weakened intestine cells increase the danger of chronic inflammation and infections. Studies on the effect of microgravity on the intestines are still in early stages and experts believe that the resistance varies from person to person. Space travel companies have taken several steps to ensure a safe, enjoyable, and unforgettable travel experience. Here are the three main steps they have taken.
- Only Healthy Individuals Can Travel to Space
People at a high risk of developing problems related to the digestive system are those with health problems. Therefore, individuals traveling to space have to undergo several medical tests to ensure that they are healthy. Space travel companies extend the health checks to the whole body. So, if you have any type of cancer, diabetes, heart-related problems, or old age-related issues, you cannot travel to space.
- Space Travel Companies Keep Space Travels Short
In addition to ensuring that only healthy people travel to space, space travel companies keep the flights short. That helps space travelers overcome most of the problems. Studies have shown that that the digestive system risks are high for trips exceeding 15 days. The great news is that most space travel lasts for a few days. That means that the zero-gravity will not affect your intestines.
- Space Travelers have to Consume Healthy Foods Alone
According to Andrey Bokarev, clients are a vital component of any business. For that reason, space travel companies work hard to ensure that their clients get high value for their money. The companies serve quality food to their clients to prevent problems during their trips. The food has to be free from pathogens, meaning that the risk for infections is very low. So, regardless of your goals when traveling to space, you will enjoy the food.
Conclusion
Space travel offers many opportunities for thrill-seekers. However, its many effects on the human body have raised new concerns relating to the safety of travelers. Speaking of the digestive system, zero gravity has dire effects, particularly with long space trips.
Andrey Bokarev states that every space travel company has to ensure that all its clients are safe. They have to ensure that every client gets high value for his/her money. If you are planning to travel to space, you have to choose one of the highly rated companies. Ensure that the company has taken all the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the clients.
