Space tourism is a futuristic trend that brings everyday thrill-seekers on cosmic trips around the universe.

 

The commercial spaceflight revolution

 

Commercial space flight was once relegated to the realm of science fiction. However, it’s becoming more accessible. As private companies push the boundaries of space exploration, the future of medicine may very well extend beyond the confines of Earth.

NASA has stated that “expanding the commercial human spaceflight market” is an important goal.

How NASA’s Work Led to Commercial Spaceflight Revolution. NASA. May 9, 2023.

NASA is transitioning low-Earth orbit to private companies that already transport crew and cargo to NASA’s International Space Station in outer space. NASA has said that private competition can help fuel greater innovation, and with lower barriers to entry, the private spaceflight industry is building momentum.

What is Commercial Crew?. NASA. February 23, 2024.

 

NASA’s commercial crew program brings together government and private industry to transport humans from the United States to low-Earth orbit and the International Space Station.

So far, just over 600 people have been to space, only about 30 of whom were “private astronauts.”

Civilians exploring space is quintessentially American. ShareAmerica. February 22, 2022.

Their widely publicized flights help spark awareness and interest in space travel among private citizens. The ability of non-billionaires to plan trips to space may not be as far-fetched in the near future.

 

 

Space travel’s effects on the body

 

These advancements are exciting, but traveling to space is risky for obvious reasons. It’s also physically taxing for humans, write the authors of a review on the effects of long-term space missions.

Tomsia M, Cieśla J, Śmieszek J, et al. Long-term space missions’ effects on the human organism. organism: what we do know and what requires further research. Frontiers in Physiology. 2024;15:1284644.

 

UK neurologists writing on the neurological effects of space flight note that the microgravity environment of space quickly leads to vestibular and ocular structural dysfunction, along with motion sickness, fatigue, and anorexia.

Gupta U, Baig S, Majid A, et al. The neurology of space flight; How does space flight effect the human nervous system?. Life Sciences in Space Research. 2023;36:105–115.

Studies show these effects may normalize after 30 days in space, but longer trips require a greater readjustment period upon return to Earth. Space also interferes with the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.

 

Professional astronauts were traditionally required to meet strict physical standards to account for the stressors of space. However, as commercial spaceflight becomes more accessible, there’s a good chance that space tourists may be more vulnerable to neurological effects during and after spaceflight. 

 

 

Brain diseases and mental health in space

 

Taking extended or multiple trips to space can leave travelers vulnerable to lasting effects, particularly from radiation exposure. According to the UK neurologists, studies suggest that the more time someone spends in space, the higher their risk of brain cancer, premature aging, neurodegeneration, and alterations in white matter.

The psychological aspects of extended missions in space are also not to be underestimated. For example, trips to Mars may involve 3 years of isolation. The isolated and confined environment (ICE) is a known stressor of space travel. 

As the UK authors explain, the psychological implications of space missions need to be considered. “Serious psychiatric complications such as bipolar disease and schizophrenia are rarer in spaceflight than in other extreme environments due to intense pre-flight screening but as space tourism becomes more common so might these psychiatric illnesses in space. Cultural and interpersonal stressors may also impact astronauts’ mental health during spaceflight. As space crafts and the International Space Station are staffed by individuals from different countries and backgrounds, conflicts between staff will worsen mental health and impair mission performance.”

Loosening the rigors of pre-screening for space travelers carries clear risks. Even when careful measures are in place, some neurological damage may be unavoidable.