The Problems that Space Causes

When in space, there are many negative effects of prolonged space travel. Several systems are effected during prolonged space travel are here are the ones that we thought were the most important.

• Muscular System - In space the muscles in your body are not being used enough to have regular use. This relates to many fall related injuries when people return from space and come back to Earth.
• Skeletal System -  In space the bones in your body are decreasing in mass at a rate of 1-1.5% per year of prolonged space travel. After being in space for such prolonged amounts of time, there would be serious amounts of bone loss.
• Digestive System - In space the intestines in your body can be compressed in unnatural ways and can cause harm to your body. This can cause many health problems and pain as more time is spent in space.

• Circulatory System -  In space the heart and other vital organs are working under less pressure than with the normal amount of gravity that you would experience on Earth. This weakens the heart and causes problems after prolonged space travel.
• Immune System - In space the body is too busy working on adjusting to the different surroundings and environment, so the immune system is caught off guard when altered bacterial growth starts to affect the body.
• Cardiovascular System - In space the blood normally flowing through the body using the push-pull force of gravity, is being affected heavily by the micro-gravity environment. The blood is not pulled down by the force of gravity and is instead pooling in the chest and head area, causing puffy faces.

Research Materials:

• http://marsmissionpbl.weebly.com/
  
• www.regentsprep.org/Regents/physics/phys06/bartgrav/default.htm
• http://www.racetomars.ca/mars/article_effects.jsp
  
• http://www.nsbri.org/DISCOVERIES-FOR-SPACE-and-EARTH/The-Body-in-Space/
  
• http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/cciss_feature.html