Apollo 7 sent a trio of astronauts into space in 1968, making it the first crewed flight of the Apollo Program. But about 15 hours into the flight, astronaut Wally Schirra began developing the symptoms of a bad head cold, with the rest of his team following suit. Balancing a fog of symptoms, including sniffles and congestion, on top of their heavy workload was a recipe for misery.
Considering the extensive training and screening astronauts go through to ensure they’re in optimal health for missions, it may seem ironic that they’re also more likely to get sick while in space. Luckily, researchers are working hard to understand the ways and reasons why astronauts get sick, as well as how to mitigate those risks for present and future space exploration.
What Happens in Outer Space?
Different kinds of clinical events manifest in space, according to NASA immunologist Brian Crucian. There are colds, sore throats, abnormal allergies and even skin rashes – an unexpected outcome in otherwise healthy individuals.
Scientists at NASA’s Human Research Program (HRP), in the Johnson Space Center located in Houston are investigating the reasons why organ functions shift in space and the root cause behind these symptoms.
