• Question: Would you ever want to go into space? Why/ why not?

    Asked by I like quiche. to Alice, Bose, Christian, Emma, Steve on 4 Mar 2016. This question was also asked by ki.
    • Photo: Alice Harpole

      Alice Harpole answered on 4 Mar 2016:

      Not with today’s technology! Currently, going into space is still quite a difficult and dangerous thing to do, requiring some of the most advanced technology we have (rockets) and years of training on the part of the astronauts. As someone who gets a bit wobbly at the thought of going upside down on a rollercoaster, I think I’m much better off staying on Earth!

      In the future of course, it may be that space travel changes significantly – you only have to look at how much aeroplanes have changed in the last 100 years or so.

    • Photo: Steve Marsden

      Steve Marsden answered on 9 Mar 2016:

      I’d love to, though my girlfriend tells me I’m not allowed. 😛

      Going into space, and re-entering the atmosphere is much safer now than in the early space race, but it still come with its risks. Ignoring these for a moment however, we still don’t understand the long term effects on the body of prolonged periods in space. When you leave the atmosphere you’re exposed to a large amount of radiation, which increases your chances of developing cancer later in life. In addition, living in microgravity for months on end causes fluid to build up around the eyes, deforming them and temporarily impairing vision. We don’t yet know if this will lead to blindness or permanent damage if you remain in space for longer periods.

      There are likely a large number of effects on the body from longer visits to space that we don’t yet know about. This is one of the current fields of research being undertaken on the International Space Station.

      Overall, space travel doesn’t look to be the best idea for your health, though I’d love to visit for a week or so.

    • Photo: Benjamin Bose

      Benjamin Bose answered on 11 Mar 2016:

      Yes!! Without a moment’s hesitation!

      Besides the fact that I love roller coasters, I can’t imagine any other experience which would even come close to exiting Earth on a rocket ship and floating around up there above everything.

      Also, it’s one thing to say Earth is a tiny speck in the cosmic ocean, but then to see how small it is in real life…. I think it’d give me a permanent perspective.

    • Photo: Emma Dean

      Emma Dean answered on 17 Mar 2016:

      Yes I would LOVE to!

      It would be amazing to be in a rocket, experience floating around because the gravity is so weak. I want to know what it feels like looking out of the window back at earth. It would be extra great if I could visit the moon too 🙂

Comments

  • Photo: Steve

    Steve commented on :

    I would love to, though my girlfriend tells me I’m not allowed. 😛

    There are a lot of heath problems caused by long periods in space. Some of the immediate effects can be treated. For instance I believe aboard the International Space Station, the crew spend four hours per day exercising to prevent muscles degrading. However there are longer lasting effects which can’t be treated. The most dangerous of these is the increased radiation levels that are present, which raise the chance of developing tumours later in life. In addition it has been shown that being in a low gravity environment for more than six months can change the shape of your eyes, degrading your vision. It is uncertain whether longer stays could lead to complete blindness.

    If someone gave me the opportunity to go into space for a week? Absolutely!
    If someone were to offer me a one way ticket to Mars? Even given all the dangers, I would have to think for a very long time over whether or not to go.

  • Photo: Christian

    Christian commented on :

    Absolutely yes!! Although I am very much answering the ‘want’ part of your question – the reality would be different if it actually happened (which, alas, isn’t very likely for the foreseeable future). Then I would actually have to consider the consequences.

    Every time you go somewhere new there is a sense of personal discovery – hill walking, visiting new countries, going to a new restaurant – I can’t begin to imagine what viewing the earth from space must feel like. I am envious of Major Tim! (I met him once, by the way, he really is a very nice guy.)