Space Travel Has Permanent Effects That Are Not Understood Properly, Says Scott Kelly

Astronaut Scott Kelly returned to Earth after spending more than one year in space aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The astronaut recently opened up about the effect that space has on the human body.

According to Kelly, living in space has permanent effects on the human body that are not yet fully understood by anyone. The astronaut further said that these effects that astronauts experience in space must be mitigated before planning a space travel for them.

Vision loss and loss of muscle and bone mass are some of the side effects of low gravity that an astronaut experiences as a result of space travel. In addition, astronauts are exposed to several types of radiation and carbon monoxide. Kelly has been in the ISS to specifically study the effects of space and low gravity of the human body. On the other hand, his brother Mark Kelly acted as a control back on Earth.

Kelly further explained how the environment that the astronauts are exposed to in space has nothing common with the conditions that exist on Earth. This is the reason why the space environment has a permanent effect on the human body. What is more worrying is that these effects are still properly not understood.

The astronaut also revealed how his skin had developed sensitivity after spending a year in space. The skin became irritable since it has not touched anything in space for almost an year. The changes were not only limited to, his skin. Kelly's legs swelled because of the changes in the gravity he experienced in space. The astronaut also started to experience flu-like symptoms.

Following his ISS mission, Kelly testified as the House Committee considered an option for NASA to provide lifetime health insurance to the astronauts on its mission.