Space travel causes long-lasting changes in the brain's white matter volume and the shape of the pituitary gland, US researchers report after a longitudinal study of 11 astronauts. The findings may have health implications for the crew of future, long-haul space missions – and may help shine light on related conditions back on Earth.
Following expeditions to the International Space Station, more than half of astronauts reported experiencing changes to their vision – most commonly in the development of farsightedness, but also manifesting as mild headaches and, in severe cases, as a loss in both near and distant acuity. Examination of patients with this "spaceflight associated neuro-ocular syndrome" has revealed a number of structural changes, including swelling of the optic nerve and retinal haemorrhage.
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Tom Cruise will travel on Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket to film in space - Business Insider
Tom Cruise wants to take action movies to an extreme new level by filming his next blockbuster about 250 miles above Earth.
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The as-yet notional mission is a three-fold collaboration between SpaceX (a private company), NASA (a government agency), and Tom Cruise (a celebrity) to make the first narrative feature film outside Earth.
Bridenstine emphasized the film as a way to "inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists to make @NASA's ambitious plans a reality."
NASA, Virgin Galactic Partner For Commercial Space Travel - Gizbot News
NASA is teaming up with Virgin Galactic for a new venture involving superfast air travel. The partnership strives to advance the US' efforts to produce technically feasible, high-Mac vehicles for potential civil applications, noted Virgin Galactic representatives. NASA has signed a Space Act Agreement with Virgin Galactic and its subsidiary The Spaceship Company.
The new partnership between the organizations could enhance the future development of aviation technology. "Virgin Galactic's unique experience and innovative technology platform will, in partnership with the historic capabilities of NASA and other government agencies, enable the progression of new technical steps that will improve U.S. competitiveness," said the CEO George Whitesides said in the statement .
NASA rolls out 'Launch America' campaign
On May 27, NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley will fly on SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft.
It will mark the first time NASA has launched astronauts into orbit from the United States since the end of the Space Shuttle program in 2011.
While they are discouraging visitors to see the liftoff in person, they do want Americans to participate virtually.
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As part of the countdown, they are creating a special social media campaign to generate excitement.
While you're here, how about this:
Space travel can impair eyesight and change pituitary shape finds MRI study
Researchers have been exploring how spaceflight can affect human physiology and human health for a long time . The earlier studies revealed several facets of the issue and uncovered a multitude of ways that space changes our bodies — even our gene expression.
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US researchers have found in a new study with help of series of magnetic resonance imaging scans (MRI scans) that spaceflight could affect the human brain in strange and unusual ways including long-lasting changes in the brain's white matter volume and the shape of the pituitary gland . The findings of the study have been published in the journal Radiology.
Virgin Galactic, NASA teaming up on superfast 'point to point' flight | Space
NASA has signed a Space Act Agreement with Virgin Galactic and its manufacturing subsidiary, The Spaceship Company, representatives of the suborbital spaceflight company announced on Tuesday (May 5).
The deal is designed to foster collaboration "in order to advance the United States' efforts to produce technically feasible, high-Mach vehicles for potential civil applications," Virgin Galactic representatives said in a statement .
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"This is the beginning of an important partnership for Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship Company that will support the future development of aviation technology," Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides said in the statement.
To Infinity & Beyond! New Rocket Engine Promises Better Space Travel | CleanTechnica
Researchers at the University of Central Florida say they have developed an advanced rocket propulsion system once thought to be impossible. Known as a rotating detonation rocket engine, it will allow upper stage rockets for space missions to become lighter, travel farther, and burn more cleanly. The research was published recently in the journal Combustion and Flame .
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“The study presents, for the first time, experimental evidence of a safe and functioning hydrogen and oxygen propellant detonation in a rotating detonation rocket engine,” said Kareem Ahmed, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UCF who led the research.
NASA picks 3 space firms to create human moon-landing systems | ABC27
BOCA CHICA BEACH, Texas (Border Report) — Less than a mile from this sandy and windy Gulf Coast beach, SpaceX plans to test and tweak its newest behemoth rocket in hopes that NASA will one day let it be part of upcoming missions to the moon.
The company that Elon Musk built is placing its bets on its signature spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket — known together as Starship — which SpaceX is developing and plans to test-launch from its private spaceport near South Texas’ border with Mexico. And South Texans are hoping to ride that space company’s success to help boost the local economy amidst this coronavirus recession.
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