Unknown facts about Astronauts

In today’s post, we’ll talk about some amazing facts that you hardly know about Astronauts.

So, without wasting any time, let’s jump up to the topic.

Why do astronauts wear space suits?

As we all know that all astronauts have to wear a spacesuit, but that is not for looking cool. Without this suit, an astronaut wouldn’t be able to leave their spacecraft and work outside their spacecraft or ISS. Because space is a very dangerous place for not only us but also for any living beings.

1. There is no air to breathe.
2. Also there has a high level of radiation.
3. Some places of space are very cold, some are very hot, where an astronaut can die with just a second without a spacesuit. With the spacesuit, he/she can spend several hours there without damaging themselves.Spacesuits seal astronauts safely inside. A backpack sends oxygen to let them breathe normally, at the same time Carbon dioxide that astronauts breathe out gets sucked away. The spacesuit also protects them from harmful radiation and space dust. Under the spacesuit, there is another suite with little tubes running through them. Water gets pumped through these tubes to cool off the astronauts.

Now see this image.

In these two images, you can see two types of spacesuit, one in white and another in orange.

These two suits are used for different reason.
So, now let’s see what is purpose to use these suits.

Why do astronauts wear an orange and white spacesuits?

Well as we can see in these two images, there are two main forms of spacesuits. One of them is that the “Advanced Crew Escape Suit”(ACES), aka the ‘orange suit’. This bright hue is termed “International Orange”. it’s for safety because it stands out so well against a landscape. it’s one in every of the foremost visible colours, especially for sea rescue. Astronauts wear this full-pressure suit during lift-off. These spacesuits are important for people who are heading for very high altitudes like space. There, the pressure is so low that folk can’t survive without a special protective suit. The orange suit is supplied with different stuff which will help an astronaut to survive if something goes wrong during the launch or landing of the spaceship. as example, a usual ACES is provided with flares, survival gear, medications, a radio, and a parachute.

Another is the white, bulky spacesuit. This will be the ” Extra-Vehicular Activities Suit”(EVAS). Astronauts wear EVA suits after they last a spacewalk. These suits protect the astronauts from the unfriendly conditions of space, with its warmth and near-Vaccum. Besides, the white suit can prevent small debris from hurting astronauts. it’s already known to you that these suits are much bulkier than the orange ones. That’s because they contain numerous layers of insulation and heavy protective fabric. On top of that, they contain breathable air, drinkable water, and temperature controls. Also, on every occasion an astronaut goes on a spacewalk, they use a tether that ties them to the space stations. However, in the case of tether tears, the EVA suit includes a backup system. This method includes small jet

thrusters which can be controlled from the station with the help of a joystick. As for the colour, the white hue reflects the heat of the sun better than other colours. As a result, astronauts don’t get too hot. What’s more, the white colour is best when it involves spotting a little dot of an astronaut against the vast expanse of black space. But while the white spacesuits protect astronauts from getting too hot, they will not protect them from getting too hot. which is when the astronaut’s gloves acquire play. They have embedded heaters that keep astronauts’ fingers cosy and functioning.

Now as we are continuously growing in science and technology, we want more to know about space.

For this hunger for knowing more, scientists do many types of research. But many types of research need special conditions.

So, scientists do these experiments in space stations.

And for this, they spend a lot of time in ISS( International Space Station ).

Now a lot of time means sometimes really lots of time, like- Gennady Padalka, who is a Russian cosmonaut. He spent 878 days in space due to five missions. He became the record holder for the largest time spent in space.

So, after spending this amount of time, when Astronaut returns to earth, they face many problems to adjust to the earth’s environment. Obviously, they used the ISS for a long time.

So, now let’s see-

What happens with astronauts when they return to earth?

After returning home, astronauts face many problems.

Paralyzed:

In a space station, there has no gravitational force of the earth. So our Astronauts feel completely zero gravity. Now, this means, they can’t feel their own weight.

You can see in many videos on youtube that they are literally flying there.

This is because of zero gravity. And as they spent a decent amount of time their body becomes used to that situation. Not only their body but also their muscles are adapted to that condition.

Now when they returned to earth, they can feel the gravity again. More generally, they now can feel their weight and their body muscles which were shrunk during living in the space, now started to struggle with this new situation.

After spending a lot of time in space, astronauts don’t have enough energy to even walk.

At this stage, the astronauts become like little newborn babies.

They become paralyzed for some time.

It takes several months to recover and start their normal life again.

Although to prevent this problem, astronauts do exercise there in the space station. But even doing exercises, they still face this problem.

Now, the next thing is-

Sleeping:

As in the ISS, the Cosmonauts sleep vertically in a sleeping bag. And they bound themselves by a chain or something like that so that they don’t fly anywhere during sleeping.

So you can understand how to struggle this is. But they are kind of used to this. So when they returned to earth and sleep horizontally.

So sleeping is also becoming a problem for them.

The next problem is a little bit funny as well as a little bit annoying.

Breaking things:

Yes, you heard right.

As there is no gravity in the International Space Station, everything flows there. So, the cosmonauts can leave their things after using them.

But on earth, it becomes a major problem for them. Cause earth has gravity.

But it becomes their habit while staying in ISS. So, to be habituated takes time.

Radiation:

Now, this is another major problem.

Above the earth’s protective layer, there is a major problem with the astronauts, radiation.

This radiation harms their central nervous system, increases the risk of cancer and also reduces motor function and prompts behavioural changes etc.

Although, the ISS is just the earth’s protective magnetic field. So inside the ISS, our astronauts are exposed to 10x higher radiation than on earth. But it is still not as higher as compared to deep space.

To solve this problem, space ships have protective shielding, dosimetry and alerts.

Although this is not a problem faced by astronauts after returning home. But I think many of you don’t know this. So I add this.

Headache:

In space, blood and the body fluid don’t flow downward (from the head towards the foot), it flows upward means toward our brain. But on earth, it flows downward.

So, of this behaviour of body fluids, when astronauts came back to earth, their body fluid starts to flow downward again. Because of this, it creates unbearable pain.

So, that’s all.
Thank you for reading.

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