Humans into Space

How many humans have been into space? -

About 500 people from nearly 40 nations have travelled into space. However, only three countries have launched astronaut into space - Russia, the United States and China. The Moon is the farthest destination that any human has been in space.

How space affects the human body?

1. Nearly all astronauts experience space sickness soon after entering space. The symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, and vomiting, last for only a day or two.

2. Body fluids rise to your head and give you a head cold, stuffy nose and puffy face.

3. Less fluids in the lower body results in a smaller leg circumference called "bird legs."

4. Calcium is lost from the bones and excreted in waste. Decreased bone density can lead to fractures, but exercise on the treadmill helps to prevent this.

5. The heart shrinks because it does not have to work so hard in space. 

6. Dust doesn't settle in space and hangs around in the air. It gets up astronauts' noses and they can sneeze more than 100 times a day!

What's in a name?

The word astronaut comes from the Greek for "star" and "sailor", and it's used to describe all space travellers. Russian space travellers are called cosmonauts and Chinese taikonauts. 

-Keva