Health Effects of Low Gravity and Radiation

[justinh23]

How can humans manage the health effects of extended exposure to low gravity and increased radiation? NASA studies conducted on ISS astronauts notice changes in the immune system, cardiovascular system, and bone structure. Routine exercise seems partially effective, but are there any other solutions that make prolonged spaceflight more viable? Do the changes matter for a permanent colonist of Mars or the Moon?

[Chris Peterson]

How can humans manage the health effects of extended exposure to low gravity and increased radiation? NASA studies conducted on ISS astronauts notice changes in the immune system, cardiovascular system, and bone structure. Routine exercise seems partially effective, but are there any other solutions that make prolonged spaceflight more viable? Do the changes matter for a permanent colonist of Mars or the Moon?

Well, you have the standard science fiction solution with space travel, artificial gravity via some kind of rotating drum. And effective shielding. So dealing with long space flights is mainly an engineering problem we can handle.

We simply may not be able to thrive on the Moon or Mars. But since it's unlikely we'll have actual colonies on either (there is, after all, no need for them), it probably won't be an issue. At most we'll have small research stations, and people will have to deal with a couple years of unhealthy conditions, not a lifetime.