Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who’s at the moment on the Worldwide Area Station (ISS) as a part of the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), is participating in necessary scientific work and academic actions.
He not too long ago recorded a particular video message for college college students in India, the place he defined in easy phrases how our digestive system adjusts to the bizarre situations of area.
In area, the dearth of Earth’s gravity has a robust impact on how the abdomen and intestines work. On Earth, gravity helps transfer meals by way of the digestive system utilizing a pure course of referred to as peristalsis. However in area, with out gravity, this motion slows down. In consequence, digestion turns into slower and the way in which the physique processes meals adjustments.
Peristalsis is the wave-like motion of muscle tissue within the digestive system that pushes meals by way of the abdomen and intestines, serving to it transfer and get digested correctly contained in the physique.
In area, physique fluids transfer upward towards the chest and head as a result of lack of gravity. This shift can have an effect on how the abdomen works, generally inflicting discomfort and altering how the physique absorbs vitamins from meals.
In area, microgravity can change the steadiness of fine micro organism within the abdomen and intestines, referred to as the intestine microbiome. This impacts how meals is damaged down and the way vitamins are taken in by the physique. If not managed correctly, it may possibly result in a scarcity of important nutritional vitamins and minerals.
How Astronauts Maintain Their Intestine Wholesome in Area
In area, the steadiness of fine micro organism within the abdomen can get disturbed, so astronauts comply with particular steps to remain wholesome:
Probiotics & Prebiotics – They take dietary supplements with good micro organism (probiotics) and eat meals that helps these micro organism develop (prebiotics).
Particular Weight loss plan – Their meals embody meals like fiber and fermented gadgets that help intestine well being and assist the physique take in vitamins higher.
Intestine Checks – Scientists recurrently take a look at astronauts’ intestine micro organism and make adjustments if wanted.
Train – Every day exercises not solely hold their muscle tissue robust but in addition assist digestion.
Further Nutritional vitamins – Because it’s tougher to soak up vitamins in area, they take additional nutritional vitamins and minerals to remain wholesome.
Earlier than Launch – Astronauts put together their intestine well being even earlier than going to area to cut back future issues.
These steps assist astronauts keep robust throughout lengthy area missions—even to Mars!
On Muscle Atrophy
Alongside together with his academic efforts, astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla can be finishing up necessary muscle well being analysis contained in the Kibo laboratory, a science module on the Worldwide Area Station (ISS) constructed by Japan. Kibo means “hope” in Japanese and is used for all times science, medical, and area experiments.
Shubhanshu Shukla is conducting analysis on muscle stem cells, that are particular cells within the physique that assist restore and construct muscle tissue. In area, the absence of gravity means astronauts’ muscle tissue aren’t used as a lot as they’re on Earth. This lack of exercise causes muscle tissue to weaken and shrink—a situation referred to as muscle atrophy.
Shukla’s research explores how these stem cells perform in microgravity and whether or not sure dietary supplements or therapies might help preserve muscle power throughout lengthy area missions. The findings is also helpful on Earth, particularly for individuals who endure from muscle loss as a consequence of growing old or prolonged durations of immobility.
The Life Sciences Glovebox is a particular enclosed workspace on the area station that retains the world clear and free from germs. It permits astronauts to securely deal with and research organic samples like cells or tissues in area. As a result of it’s a closed and managed surroundings, it helps scientists do detailed research on the mobile degree—even in microgravity—with out danger of contamination.
What’s a Glovebox?
A Glovebox is a sealed container with built-in gloves on the surface. Astronauts insert their arms into these gloves to deal with samples contained in the field with out ever touching them immediately, protecting each the astronaut and the pattern secure.
Shubhanshu Shukla’s analysis goes hand in hand with different experiments being executed by astronauts on the ISS. These embody research on brain-computer connections and psychological well being in area, supported by each authorities and personal teams.
Alongside together with his scientific work, Shukla can be encouraging younger Indian college students to take curiosity in area science and biology. His efforts are serving to us be taught extra about area journey whereas inspiring the subsequent technology.
( Girish Linganna is a science communicator and a Defence, Aerospace & Geopolitical Analyst. He’s the Managing Director of ADD Engineering Elements India Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. )