太空旅行让人体处在极端的环境中，这对人的身体和心理健康都有可能造成伤害。本期 “随身英语” 介绍宇航员在太空中可能遇到的健康问题，并讨论关注宇航员的健康对航空事业和医疗科学发展的意义。

　　词汇：space travel 太空旅行

　　Astronaut Frank Rubiales has returned to Earth after 371 days in space. It was only supposed to be 180, but a technical fault stopped him from returning as planned. Unlucky for him, but very lucky for scientists who want to see what effects spending an extended time in space has on the human body.

　　Being in space can affect both physical and mental health. Weightlessness caused by a lack of gravity can lead to a loss of bone and muscle mass. Astronauts are recommended 150 minutes of exercise per day to counteract¹ this. Also, space traveller's eyes can be affected² by the way that fluids act in zero-gravity. Outside the protection of the Earth's atmosphere, astronauts are exposed to much higher levels and different forms of solar radiation. This can potentially cause long-term health problems, such as cancer.

　　It's not just physical health that is affected by being in space. Our mental health can be damaged if we don't get enough sleep. On earth, our bodies respond through circadian rhythms to the Sun rising and setting to help us sleep, but astronauts on board the International Space Station see 16 sunsets and sunrises every day. This means that avoiding sleep deprivation³ is a challenge. Isolation⁴, and spending all your time with a small group of people can also affect mental health. Along with isolation, is the pressure that comes from being constantly monitored by experts back on Earth. With possible future missions to Mars predicted to last three years, tensions within the crew could become heightened. Astronaut Harry⁵ Hartfield reports an example of this where a colleague threatened to open the airlock and drain the oxygen from the spacecraft.

　　Developing new techniques and technology to support astronauts' health will enable more ambitious future missions. It can also help those of us who are staying on Earth. The Canadian Space Agency is using its expertise⁶ to improve health care for people living in remote regions. The technology that supports robots used in space is now being used in surgery in normal hospitals, while pressure suits are being used to treat post-pregnancy complications.

　　词汇表

　　astronaut 宇航员

　　technical fault 技术故障

　　physical health 身体健康

　　mental health 心理健康

　　weightlessness 失重状态

　　lack of gravity 失重

　　muscle mass 肌肉量

　　exposed to 使…暴露于

　　solar radiation 太阳辐射

　　cancer 癌症

　　circadian rhythm 昼夜节律

　　International Space Station 国际空间站

　　sleep deprivation 睡眠不足

　　isolation 与世隔绝

　　monitored 被监测

　　tension 紧张关系，人际矛盾

　　airlock 气闸舱

　　spacecraft 宇宙飞船

　　pressure suit 加压服

　　post-pregnancy complication 产后并发症

 

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