This could be something that will delay any long term manned space flight missions. It appears that microgravity increases fluid build up inside the skull which causes pressure on the eyeball. Up to 33% of astronauts who have been in space for six months or more have suffered permanent eye damage.
Here's a link to the story I read.
http://www.space.com/14876-astronaut-spaceflight-vision-problems.html

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

This could be something that will delay any long term manned space flight missions. It appears that microgravity increases fluid build up inside the skull which causes pressure on the eyeball. Up to 33% of astronauts who have been in space for six months or more have suffered permanent eye damage.
Here's a link to the story I read.
http://www.space.com/14876-astronaut-spaceflight-vision-problems.html

Hmmm... :/ that's a shame. Okay... I am about to ask a potentially very stupid question... please be kind in your ridicule everyone :)

How difficult would it be to create a gravitational field within a space craft? I think it would take away quite a bit of the novelty of being in space - but - would it be possible?

I will be under my rock in rocky's cafe should the jeering get a bit loud on this one... bye :)

Centrifugal force could be used to create 1g but this is why manned spaceflight is so much more expensive than robots and drones.

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Building space stations and/or spacecraft that have large centrifugal chambers where astronauts can spend time will be very expensive to construct requiring vast resources and a large fleet of craft capable of lifting the materials into orbit. Then a large cadre of skilled laborers to build it. Way in the future, I would guess.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

Building space stations and/or spacecraft that have large centrifugal chambers where astronauts can spend time will be very expensive to construct requiring vast resources...

Sort of but not quite...


Large (high mass and/or rapidly) rotating structures are an engineering nightmare for anything that will need to be maneuvered!

Alternatively, stop/starting the rotation for maneuvers is also an expensive engineering problem...


However, for long duration space living, 2001-esq style rotating space stations are perhaps the best compromise...

Keep searchin',
Martin

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I suppose that leaves trying to find out what the difference is between the 33% that do suffer damage and those that don't. Then factor that into the selection process before sending astronauts into microgravity environments.

Or reduce the time they're exposed.

Would still come at a cost though, but a lot less than the cost that could arise from a potentially catastrophic accident caused by poor vision

This could be something that will delay any long term manned space flight missions. It appears that microgravity increases fluid build up inside the skull which causes pressure on the eyeball. Up to 33% of astronauts who have been in space for six months or more have suffered permanent eye damage.
Here's a link to the story I read.
http://www.space.com/14876-astronaut-spaceflight-vision-problems.html

Hmmm... :/ that's a shame. Okay... I am about to ask a potentially very stupid question... please be kind in your ridicule everyone :)

How difficult would it be to create a gravitational field within a space craft? I think it would take away quite a bit of the novelty of being in space - but - would it be possible?

I will be under my rock in rocky's cafe should the jeering get a bit loud on this one... bye :)

I think it was in the movie 'A Space Oddysey' they created gravity in the spacecraft bij a giant sort of 'ring' revolving around the craft. That's the centrifugal force Batter Up was mentioning.

Found it! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotating_wheel_space_station

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Tullio

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Constructing a space station or a spacecraft large enough to contain a meaningful centrifuge will require resources way beyond what any government or private corporation is willing to procure in today's world economy. It may be a very long time before such vessels are built. It's not that we can't do it because I think we could but rather more like we won't do it because the perception is that the money spent is wasted on space projects. I've always maintained that the money is spent here on earth paying very smart skilled people to build our future.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.