The migration of humanity into
the cosmos is quickly evolving into a dynamic, ever-changing enterprise of historic
importance. In the several years that were required to write this pair of books,
we were constantly updating even as we were finalizing them. And
yet, the advance of exploration and preparation for the first colonists who will soon
be departing Earth forever continues at an ever-quickening pace. In this section of our continually updated web presence, we will be posting important new developments for you to consider
as they arrive on our news feeds and metadata searches. We will link these updates to
chapters in Books One and Two for your convenience. Be sure and subscribe to
this free website so that we may keep you informed as each piece of essential
news flows into our offices! Click here to subscribe - be sure and not miss any updates! |
Kidney Failure on Mars Length MissionsNature Communications The structure and function of the kidneys is altered by space flight, with galactic radiation causing permanent damage that would jeopardise any mission to Mars, according to a new study led by researchers from UCL. The study, published in Nature Communications, is the largest analysis of kidney health in space flight to date and includes the first health dataset for commercial astronauts. It is published as part of a Nature special collection of papers on space and health. Researchers have known that space flight causes certain health issues since the 1970s, in the years after humans first travelled beyond Earth’s magnetic field, most famously during the first moon landing in 1969. These issues include loss of bone mass, weakening of the heart and eyesight, and development of kidney stones. It is thought that many of these issues stem from exposure to space radiation, such as solar winds from the Sun and Galactic Cosmic Radiation (GCR) from deep space, that the Earth’s magnetic field protects us from on Earth. As most manned space flights take place in Low Earth orbit (LEO) and receive partial protection from Earth’s magnetic field, only the 24 people who have travelled to the moon have been exposed to unmitigated GCR and only for a short time (6-12 days). Nobody has studied what changes might be happening in the kidneys and
other organs as a result of conditions that would be experienced during
space travel beyond Earth’s magnetic field over longer periods. (EurekAlert - ASSS)
In Context - by Dennis Chamberland This latest broadside to the planned continuation of use of
the archaic Apollo explorations paradigm for deep space exploration is a significant
one. It may be as damning as any before and truly signals a loud
warning as was unambiguously emphasized in Books One and Two of Departing Earth
Forever. In this research piece from one of the world's most prestigious
scientific journals, the bottom-line warning is that the long term
multimorbidity of microgravity and galactic cosmic radiation may lead to kidney
failure in mid-missions to Mars forcing the requirement for crew dialysis on
the way back to Earth. If this is not the final nail in the coffin before
a wholesale, sane redesign then what else will it be? As a species looking
seriously over the cosmic horizon as we actively dress for these missions, we
need a sober moment and a steady hand on the brake before this careens totally
out of control and crews return permanently injured, or worse, from deep space missions. |
Scientists Found Genetic Mutations in Every AstronautBlood Sample They StudiedMount Sinai Hospital Astronauts are at higher risk for developing mutations—possibly linked to spaceflight—that can increase the risk of developing cancer and heart disease during their lifetimes, according to a first-of-its kind study from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. A team of researchers collected blood samples from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronauts who flew space shuttle missions between 1998 and 2001. They discovered DNA mutations, known as somatic mutations, in the blood-forming system (hematopoietic stem cells) in all 14 astronauts studied. Their findings, published in the August issue of Nature Communications Biology, suggest that spaceflight could be associated with these mutations and emphasize the importance of ongoing blood screening of astronauts throughout their careers and during their retirement to monitor their health.
In Context - by Dennis Chamberland (See Chapter Titled "Chronic Cosmic Radiation Exposure Etiology" - Departing Earth Forever: Book One) As alarming as this headline sounds, in context, hundreds of astronauts have had longer exposures to the space environment in low Earth orbit for nearly half a century than those studied and there has also been research providing evidence that low Earth orbiting astronauts protected by the Van Allen shields do not exhibit elevated incidents of cancer. (Click here for a review of that study.) And yet the reviewer also clearly warned in scientific context, "As a cancer research scientist who works on DNA damage and how it causes cancer, I am not surprised that this study concluded no substantial effect on cancer risk. However, in a decade or two time the picture may be very different. Larger numbers of astronauts who have spent great spans of time in space will be reaching old age where even normal people are quite likely to get cancer. It may be that historically shorter spells in space have little-to-no effect, but those with longer stints start to show an increased risk of cancer." |