NASA's Apollo astronauts, the only humans to have travelled beyond Earth's protective magnetosphere, die disproportionately of heart and blood vessel diseases, researchers said Thursday, blaming radiation.
This raises health concerns for all humans with dreams of travelling to the Moon, Mars or beyond, as space agencies and private companies vie to expand humankind's extraterrestrial footprint.
"We know very little about the effects of deep space radiation on human health, particularly on the cardiovascular system," said Michael Delp of the Florida State University.
"This gives us the first glimpse into its adverse effects on humans."
Of seven Apollo astronauts to have died to date, three (43 percent) succumbed to cardiovascular disease -- a group of ailments that includes heart attacks, brain aneurysms and strokes.
This was "four to five times higher" than for trained astronauts who never left Earth (nine percent), and those like the International Space Station crews who stayed closer to home in low-Earth orbit (11 percent).
The findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
"These data suggest that human travel into deep space may be more hazardous to cardiovascular health than previously estimated," the researchers wrote.
NASA's Apollo programme sent 11 manned flights into space between 1968 and 1972.
Of the 24 men who flew beyond Earth orbit into deep space, eight have died to date. The eighth, Edgar Mitchell, passed away this year, after the data had been analysed, and was not included in the study.
Beyond the magnetosphere, a magnetic "bubble" which shields Earth and its occupants, the Apollo astronauts were exposed to unprecedented levels of particle radiation, said the study.
The ISS, by comparison, orbits Earth within the magnetosphere.
- Mars colonies -
Energetic particles from galactic radiation can be dangerous to humans as they pass right through the skin and can damage cells or DNA, according to NASA.
The agency has plans for a manned trip to Mars in the 2030s, and has stated that radiation shielding "will be a crucial technology" for the voyage as well as for exploring the surface.
The study was the first to include non-flight astronauts as a comparison group in examining the long-term health of space travellers.
Comparing astronauts to the general population can yield confusing outcomes, as they are generally better educated and fitter, and have lifelong access to medical care -- all ingredients for better health.
In comparing different types of astronaut, the researchers were able to exclude any possible impact of zero-gravity on cardiovascular disease, as all three groups (Earth-bound, low-orbit and deep space) were exposed to it.
The researchers also found no difference between the three groups in terms of cancer or accidents as the cause of death.
To test a possible cause for lunar astronauts' higher incidence of cardiovascular disease, the team exposed mice to comparable radiation levels in the lab.
"After six months -- the equivalent of 20 human years -- the mice demonstrated an impairment of arteries that is known to lead to the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in humans," said a Florida State University statement.
"What the mouse data show is that deep space radiation is harmful to vascular health," added Delp.
US billionaire Elon Musk and Dutch company Mars One have mooted placing human colonies on the Red Planet.
AFP
Thu Jul 28 2016
![Heart hazard for Apollo astronauts: study Heart hazard for Apollo astronauts: study](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-07/41469717456_NASALunar.jpg)
(FILES) This undated NASA image obtained on Feb 5, 2016 shows Astronaut Edgar D. Mitchell, Apollo 14 lunar module pilot standing by the deployed US flag on the lunar surface during the early moments of the mission's first spacewalk. - AFP PHOTO/NASA
![Pelancong asing ditahan disyaki cabul pekerja spa di Pulau Perhentian Pelancong asing ditahan disyaki cabul pekerja spa di Pulau Perhentian](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-07/51658407048_Cabul.jpg)
Pelancong asing ditahan disyaki cabul pekerja spa di Pulau Perhentian
Polis menahan seorang pelancong lelaki warga Maghribi kerana disyaki mencabul seorang juruterapi wanita rakyat tempatan di Pulau Perhentian.
Warga Thailand seludup diesel dihadapkan mahkamah
Seorang pemandu lori warga Thailand dihadapkan ke mahkamah atas menyeleweng 322 liter minyak diesel minggu lalu.
ADUN Rembia sertai Pas: YB Kampar minta buka riben putih
Susulan pengumuman ADUN Rembia sertai Pas dalam sidang media, YB Kampar, Chong Zhemin kemuka Peraturan Mesyuarat dan menyifatkan satu penghinaan besar buat Parlimen.
#SisiTVParlimen
#AWANInews
#SisiTVParlimen
#AWANInews
![Malaysia, Brunei dalam proses rundingan muktamad sempadan darat negara - Mohamad Malaysia, Brunei dalam proses rundingan muktamad sempadan darat negara - Mohamad](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720590984_DatukSeriMohamadH.jpg)
Malaysia, Brunei dalam proses rundingan muktamad sempadan darat negara - Mohamad
Mohamad Hasan berkata buat masa ini, kerja-kerja penandaan dan pengukuran di lapangan telah meliputi 175.96 km atau 33.3 peratus daripada keseluruhan jarak sempadan.
Kim Pan Gon undur diri kesan kepada Harimau Malaya
Apa reaksi peminat Harimau Malaya dan penganalisis sukan mengenai peletakan jawatan Kim Pan-Gon?
Masuk Pas untuk sama-sama susah dengan rakyat - ADUN Rembia
Muhamad Jailani berkata, sebelum ini beliau pernah menghantar surat kepada Lembaga Disiplin UMNO memohon untuk memecat keahliannya daripada parti Melayu itu.
![Perang berlarutan antara punca kelewatan penghantaran Black Hawk Perang berlarutan antara punca kelewatan penghantaran Black Hawk](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/51712121864_TBADLYZAHARIjp.jpg)
Perang berlarutan antara punca kelewatan penghantaran Black Hawk
Perkara itu dimaklumkan pihak Aerotree Defence and Services Sdn Bhd iaitu syarikat yang dipertanggungjawabkan dalam kontrak perolehan perkhidmatan sewaan helikopter berkenaan.
Keghairahan final Euro 2024 dibawakan ke restoran mamak
Kemeriahan dan keghairahan perlawanan final UEFA EURO 2024 antara Sepanyol dengan England di Berlin, Jerman dirasai di Malaysia, dibawakan oleh 'Astro BizOne Watch Party' di Restoran Hakim, Seksyen 7, Shah Alam.
![Polis kesan remaja lelaki hilang sejak enam hari lepas Polis kesan remaja lelaki hilang sejak enam hari lepas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721115027_MuhammadAdiLagik.jpg)
Polis kesan remaja lelaki hilang sejak enam hari lepas
Polis sedang berusaha mengesan seorang remaja lelaki yang dilaporkan hilang oleh keluarganya di Kuala Pilah sejak enam hari lepas.
[TERKINI] Sidang media khas FAM
FAM adakan satu sidang media khas petang nanti, difahamkan berkaitan rombakan. Kepimpinan tertinggi FAM atau barisan kejurulatihan skuad Harimau Malaya?
![Asteroid 2021 EF1 melintasi Bumi hari ini Asteroid 2021 EF1 melintasi Bumi hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-03/51615165857_NEOEarthCloseAppr.jpg)
Asteroid 2021 EF1 melintasi Bumi hari ini
Ini adalah asteroid ke-23 yang diketahui melintasi Bumi dalam tempoh sebulan sejak awal tahun ini.
![Asteroid hampir hentam Bumi minggu lalu? Asteroid hampir hentam Bumi minggu lalu?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-04/41523935561_Asteroid.jpg)
Asteroid hampir hentam Bumi minggu lalu?
NASA merakamkan sebuah asteroid sebesar padang bola sepak dikenal pasti hampir melanggar Bumi pada Ahad lepas.