Space adaptation syndrome
559869
222047599
2008-06-27T08:59:21Z
Enfenion
4600044
From old Garn Scale page: It does not appear to be a formal or rigorous NASA measurement.
'''Space adaptation syndrome''' (SAS), or '''space sickness''', is a condition experienced by around half of [[space traveler]]s during adaptation to [[microgravity]].<ref> Tony Quine (2007): ''Addicted to space: An appreciation of Anousheh Ansari, Part II'' appeared in ''Spaceflight'', a publication of the [[British Interplanetary Society]] (BIS), ISSN 0038-6340, Volume 49, Number 4, April 2007, page 144.</ref> It is related to [[motion sickness]], as the [[vestibular system]] adapts to [[weightlessness]].<ref>[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080521112119.htm "Why Do Astronauts Suffer From Space Sickness?"] ScienceDaily (May 23, 2008)</ref>
Space sickness is caused by changes in gravitational forces, which affect spatial orientation in humans.<ref>[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080521112119.htm "Why Do Astronauts Suffer From Space Sickness?"] ScienceDaily (May 23, 2008)</ref> According to ''Science Daily'', "[[Gravity]] plays a major role in our spatial orientation. Changes in gravitational forces, such as the transition to weightlessness during a space voyage, influence our spatial orientation and require adaptation by many of the physiological processes in which our balance system plays a part. As long as this adaptation is incomplete, this can be coupled to motion sickness (nausea), visual illusions and disorientation."<ref>[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080521112119.htm "Why Do Astronauts Suffer From Space Sickness?"] ScienceDaily (May 23, 2008)</ref>
Space sickness was effectively unknown during the earliest spaceflights, as these were undertaken in very cramped conditions; it seems to be aggravated by being able to freely move around, and so is more common in larger spacecraft. Around 60 percent of all [[Space Shuttle]] crew members currently experience it on their first flight; the first case is now suspected to be [[Gherman Titov]], in August, [[1961]] onboard ''[[Vostok 2]]'', who reported dizziness and nausea. However, the first significant cases were in early Apollo flights; [[Frank Borman]] on ''[[Apollo 8]]'' and [[Rusty Schweickart]] on ''[[Apollo 9]]''. Both experienced identifiable and reasonably severe symptoms — in the latter case causing the mission plan to be modified.
As with motion sickness, symptoms can vary from mild nausea and disorientation, to vomiting and intense discomfort; headaches and nausea are often reported in varying degrees. About half of sufferers experience mild symptoms; only around 10% suffer severely. The most extreme reaction yet recorded was that felt by [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[Jake Garn]] in 1985 — after his flight, NASA astronauts began using the informal "[[Garn scale]]" <ref>http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/oral_histories/StevensonRE/RES_5-13-99.pdf, pg 35, Johnson Space Center Oral History Project, interview with Dr. Robert Stevenson:<blockquote>"Jake Garn was sick, was pretty sick. I don't know whether we should tell stories like that. But anyway, Jake Garn, he has made a mark in the Astronaut Corps because he represents the maximum level of space sickness that anyone can ever attain, and so the mark of being totally sick and totally incompetent is one Garn. Most guys will get maybe to a tenth Garn, if that high. And within the Astronaut Corps, he forever will be remembered by that."</blockquote></ref> to measure reactions to space sickness. In most cases, symptoms last from 2–4 days.
Modern motion-sickness medications can counter space sickness, but are rarely used — it is thought that having space travelers adapt over the first day or two is preferable to a medicated (and drowsy) state during a mission. However, [[transdermal]] [[dramamine]] anti-nausea patches are typically worn during launch and landing by NASA crew members.
Mission-critical activities (especially [[extra-vehicular activity|EVA]], during which vomiting could be fatal) are generally not scheduled for the first days of a mission, to allow crews to adapt to zero-g. Due to the danger posed by possible vomiting in an [[space suit|extravehicular suit]], [[Transdermal patch|transdermal dramamine patches]] are also typically used during EVAs, as an additional backup measure.
==See also==
*[[Human adaptation to space]]
*[[Human spaceflight]]
== References ==
<references/>
[[Category:Human spaceflight]]
[[Category:Neurological disorders]]
[[de:Raumkrankheit]]
[[fr:Mal de l'espace]]
[[ja:宇宙酔い]]
[[pt:Síndrome de adaptação ao espaço]]
[[pl:Choroba kosmiczna]]