WASHINGTON 鈥� Advances in health and safety could happen as a result of recent research at the International Space Station.
NASA astronaut Tim Kopra, who was involved in the research, is now adjusting to life back on Earth after spending 186 days in space.
鈥淵ou know, I like gravity a lot,鈥� he told 蜜桃视频app on Friday. He returned to Earth in June.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really cool being in zero gravity, but it鈥檚 actually a lot easier to get around in most respects in 1 G,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 interesting about living in space is that you completely adapt to your environment, so after really just a matter of weeks, zero gravity feels completely normal.鈥�
According to Kopra, the human body seems to really like weightlessness, even though it鈥檚 ultimately harmful.
鈥淵our bones lose calcium, your muscles will atrophy unless you exercise. We have some issues that can happen with your eyes in space,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut you just get very comfortable. You鈥檙e floating just like you would in a pool, and it’s very relaxing in that respect.鈥�
However, he said those problems are giving them a chance to learn more about health conditions like osteoporosis.
Other research that could have implications for Earth involve something that would normally count as an emergency on the Space Station.
Combustion 鈥渋s not supposed to happen鈥� there, Kopra said. However, these experiments were the exception, designed to see how certain materials burn in microgravity.
鈥淭hings behave differently in space,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen you watch things burn in space, it鈥檚 like this little orb that burns.鈥�
The experiments could help develop better flame retardant materials for use on Earth and in space. They could also lead to other discoveries about combustion.
鈥淚f we can understand how to make it even 10 percent more efficient, that鈥檚 a big deal,鈥� he said.
Much of the recent research will also be studied in relation to possible long-range trips, because numerous challenges remain for a trip to a destination like Mars.
鈥淔or one, we need to be able to get to wherever we鈥檙e going fast, because the longer you take the more risk you鈥檙e exposed to,鈥� Kopra said.
Systems that are 鈥渞eally bulletproof,鈥� and that can be easily fixed in the event they do break, would need to be developed, he said. The long-term effects of zero gravity on the human body remain a key issue as well.
