Russian and US astronauts have enjoyed a safe return to their home planet after a long mission that could pave the way for travel to Mars.The three astronauts spent 340 days in space.
“We have landing,” Russian Mission Control confirmed at around 04:30 GMT after the trio touched down southeast of the settlement of Dzhezkazgan in central Kazakhstan, the largest Muslim country in the world which hosts the world’s first and oldest spaceport “Baikonur Cosmodrome”.
After living for nearly a year aboard the International Space Station (ISS), NASA astronaut Scott Kelly is two inches taller than his identical twin brother Mark.
The ISS space laboratory has been orbiting Earth at about 28,000 kilometres an hour since 1998.
One of the main goals of his groundbreaking mission is to study how well humans can endure — mind, body and spirit — on a long-duration spaceflight.
Kelly, who has spent more time in space than any other American astronaut, reports that overall he “feels pretty good” and now begins what may be a yearlong project to monitor his health.
One unique advantage he provides to NASA’s doctors is his identical twin brother, Mark, a former NASA astronaut who spent last year with his feet planted on terra firma.
Comparing the twins will help researchers spot any genetic changes that might have occurred in Scott in space.
Meanwhile — here’s what National Space Biomedical Research Institute and NASA tells us they’ll be on the lookout for:
Astronauts no longer walk to get in the spacecraft, they float so the bones in the legs, hips and spine experience a significant decrease in load bearing. This leads to bone breakdown and a release of calcium, leaving the bone more brittle and weak. The release of calcium can also increase the risk of kidney stone formation and bone fractures.
Extended spaceflight results in less work for the legs and back: muscles can begin to weaken or atrophy, and this could lead to fall-related injuries and accidents during exploration missions.
In space, blood is flowing more in the upper part of the body and a little less in the lower extremities. While in space, astronauts often have a puffy face and the legs that are smaller in circumference.
The heart doesn’t have to work as hard up there: Over time, this could lead to a decrease in the size of the heart. There is also a concern that space radiation may affect endothelial cells, the lining of blood vessels, which might initiate or accelerate coronary heart disease.
The inner ear, which is sensitive to gravity, no longer functions correctly. Early in the mission, astronauts can experience disorientation, space motion sickness and a loss of sense of direction. Upon return to Earth, they must readjust to Earth’s gravity and can experience problems standing up, stabilizing their gaze, walking and turning.
Scientists know that astronauts are exposed to higher levels of radiation in space that could potentially lead to cataracts and cancer. There is no 24-hour day/light cycle in space so the astronaut’s body clock has to readjust to day/light cycle after return to earth.
