According to Daily Mail, space travel, often hailed as one of humanity’s greatest achievements, has a darker side. It significantly impacts our body’s cells, speeding up the processes of .
Researchers from the University of California sent stem cells to the as part of several missions. Within just 32 to 45 days, the cells lost their ability to fully regenerate, became more susceptible to DNA damage, and the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes shortened.
What This Means
Stem cells are our body’s “repair system.” They regenerate tissues, initiate healing, and refresh the body. However, in space, they behave differently: they work too hard, deplete quickly, and begin to age.
The study also recorded mitochondrial failures—essentially, the cellular “power plants” malfunctioned, triggering inflammatory processes. This increases the risk of immune issues and even the development of diseases.
The Astronauts’ Experience
The effects are noticeable even to the naked eye. When American Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore returned after nine months in orbit, they appeared significantly older and more fatigued. Their mission was supposed to last only eight days, but due to issues with the Starliner spacecraft, the journey stretched to nearly a year.
After landing, both had to be carried out on stretchers: their legs couldn’t handle Earth’s gravity. Weight loss, muscle atrophy, exhaustion, and even changes in appearance are some of the consequences of prolonged weightlessness.
Can Recovery Happen?
Despite this, the body has an incredible ability to recover. When the aged stem cells from were placed in a healthy environment on Earth, some of the damage disappeared. This offers hope that in the future, methods for rejuvenating cells after space travel could be developed.
That’s why astronauts train for two hours every day in orbit—to keep their muscles and bones in shape and to have a better chance of recovering quickly after returning.
Photo: NASA
