NASA Twin Study

[Exterous]

Study compares one twin who spent a year in space with his twin on earth. Pretty interesting findings

NASA researchers reported that his body experienced a vast number of changes while in orbit. DNA mutated in some of his cells. His immune system produced a host of new signals. His microbiome gained new species of bacteria.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/11/science/scott-mark-kelly-twins-space-nasa.html

 

[ondma]

My wife was telling me about this. Could be the effect of increased exposure to radiation with no atmosphere to protect him.

 

[Brainonska511]

It's interesting, but we should remember that this is an N=1 study. Useful as a jumping off point for what to monitor in the future, but wouldn't want to draw too many conclusions.

 

[trenchfoot]

Findings can work for the benefit of all mankind.

Let's hope so.

 

[Paratus]

My wife was telling me about this. Could be the effect of increased exposure to radiation with no atmosphere to protect him.

Some of it is radiation, some of it is stress others...

ArsTechnica has a good write up.
https://arstechnica.com/science/201...pace-used-to-track-scott-kellys-health-genes/

Many of the changes went back to normal. Some did not. In general, eye changes, lost body mass, a small but consistent cognitive decline after the mission, inflammation, and radiation damage were all issues.

We treat astronauts as radiation workers and limit their total career exposure, exercise mitigates some or a lot of issues, (although Scott apparently had a injury which reduced his excercise). The cognitive changes could be worrisome for longer missions. It’s also possible they reflected his busy post mission schedule.

So some good data but nothing definitive for all astronauts in all situations in my opinion.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

My wife was telling me about this. Could be the effect of increased exposure to radiation with no atmosphere to protect him.

It seems likely that it's a combination of zero G and increased radiation which is still much lower than those on a trip to Mars would be exposed to because of Earth's magnetosphere. For now getting to Mars without having your cells wrecked isn't feasible. A vastly superior form of propulsion like a working M-Drive (if possible) is needed, or nuclear power where travel time goes to about a month or less. Otherwise we're looking at people volunteering to die in short order even if they make it to Mars.

A viable system in place may take a base on the Moon and technology that does not yet exist even then. Lunar rail guns could send supplies to Mars in quanties I don't forsee happening in other ways. What needs to exist is long term reliability. Having them shaded allows for relatively easy superconductive elements with no air resistance to shield payload. Humans would of course be millimeter thick paste once acceleration begins.

Even laser powered propulsion is possible but a quick return trip is unlikely unless a priority is to build a nuclear facility on one of the moons of Mars however it may destabilize their orbits due to recoil.

Anyway, it's good to have some real controlled data now.

 

[realibrad]

It's interesting, but we should remember that this is an N=1 study. Useful as a jumping off point for what to monitor in the future, but wouldn't want to draw too many conclusions.

Keep in mind though, we don't see this big variation in twins typically. So really, when you look at variation between twins and then you consider what we saw here, it really about more than one.

 

[feralkid]

Meanwhile, his Earthbound twin, husband of Gabriel Giffords is running for the U.S. Senate.

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-poli...kelly-astronaut-arizona-senate-gabby-giffords

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Some of it is radiation, some of it is stress others...

ArsTechnica has a good write up.
https://arstechnica.com/science/201...pace-used-to-track-scott-kellys-health-genes/

Many of the changes went back to normal. Some did not. In general, eye changes, lost body mass, a small but consistent cognitive decline after the mission, inflammation, and radiation damage were all issues.

We treat astronauts as radiation workers and limit their total career exposure, exercise mitigates some or a lot of issues, (although Scott apparently had a injury which reduced his excercise). The cognitive changes could be worrisome for longer missions. It’s also possible they reflected his busy post mission schedule.

So some good data but nothing definitive for all astronauts in all situations in my opinion.

Shows real problems beyond Scott since as I say there is significant radiation protection from the magnetosphere. If we moved an icy comet into orbit we could melt it and put water around a core that shields astronauts and provides an immediate source of water on Mars itself. A few meters would provide enough protection and with water recycling would last quite some time. Of course water weighs a fuckton. a sphere 30 meters in diameter weighs about 2.5 million pounds if I'm calculating correctly. Definitely easier to guide a watery comet here.