In the past, astronauts had to undergo lengthy times in quarantine upon return from space. Now, astronauts isolate prior to their extended trip to the International Space Station. Why? Because the immune system declines in space, astronauts need to be pathogen free before the trip. The astronauts need to be sure that they are mentally able to go for months alone in the void of space. The astronauts need to train at an elite and top secret facility with limited personnel access or clearance. The astronauts are careful to not introduce hidden viruses or bacteria into space.
Added by Amanda L.
Close
Step 1
Step 1: The question asks why astronauts isolate before going to space. Show more…
Show all steps
Your feedback will help us improve your experience
Josee Pacheco and 54 other Biology educators are ready to help you.
Ask a new question
Labs
Want to see this concept in action?
Explore this concept interactively to see how it behaves as you change inputs.
Key Concepts
Recommended Videos
Space, the final frontier! Indeed, but being in space causes some problems. Astronauts in space show a decline in their ability to mount an immune response and, consequently, develop a decreased resistance to infection. Two potentially important differences in physiology in space versus on Earth are more fluid flowing to the head and a lack of weight bearing on the lower limbs. Could they be involved somehow in the deleterious effect on the immune system? Design an experiment to be done on Earth to answer this question.
If ultraviolet light and hydrogen peroxide were not used as part of the Lake Whillans expedition, it would have been more likely that scientists would have been unable to access microbes from under the ice. The hole in the ice through which microbes were collected would have frozen shut. Terrestrial microbes would have contaminated the lake. Scientists would have become ill after exposure to the microbes.
Adi S.
Astronauts sometimes train underwater to simulate conditions in space. Explain why.
Recommended Textbooks
Biology for AP Courses
Objective Biology for NEET
Introduction to General, Organic and Biochemistry
Transcript
Watch the video solution with this free unlock.
EMAIL
PASSWORD