Floundering Fish Research Paper

The human body is mentally and physically evolved for Earth’s habitat. Through survival of the fittest, it has been refined and optimized for the pressurized, warm, and friendly environment of our planet. When a human leaves the safety that Earth and its atmosphere provides, much as a floundering fish out of water, there are consequences. The radiation and lack of gravity lead to possible health problems and the journey itself has a psychological impact on those who undertake it.

Once an astronaut leaves the protection of Earth’s atmosphere and magnetic field they are susceptible to radiation that otherwise would have been blocked. The radiation can come from outside our solar system as in the case of galactic cosmic rays, from the sun as

On Earth, bones provide four major functions: support, nutritional storage, blood production, and protection (Canright 2009). In space, bones do not have the same significant weight to support. Also as explained earlier, blood production is reduced as not as much blood is needed. Therefore the bones do not keep strengthening, so the extra calcium is deposited into the bloodstream. Often astronauts have high blood-calcium levels and extended stays have shown bone losses up to 20% (Canright 2009). This can be reduced with diet. Similarly to osteoporosis on Earth, reduced bone density can be countered by diets high in calcium and vitamin D. However, astronauts cannot regain all of their lost bone mass even when they get back on Earth (Canright

Astronauts leave the planet they call home and all of the people they love for a trip into the unknown. In space, their entire environment is significantly different and hostile. They are confined in a small space with the same people for months. Other normal outlets like exercise or distance are not possible. They only have the basic necessities to survive. Amenities like swimming pools, restaurants, zoos, and libraries are not accessible. Astronauts also carry the weight of the mission on their shoulders. They must complete their set tasks in a short period of time. The public and their loved ones back on Earth keep updated on almost their every move. Astronauts have to balance relationships with each other as well as those in mission control. Conflicts between the Apollo 7 crew and Mission Control cause problems with that mission and lead to the crew never flying again (Harrison and Fiedler 2011). If crew members have problems with each other and isolate themselves they can develop sleep distrubances, anxiety, and mood swings, among other issues. If interpersonal relationships become issues then it can make missions difficult. Three Soyuz missions were shortened because of these reasons (Harrison and Fiedler