Ep141: Space Medicine Part 2- really remote practice

About this episode

This episode discusses the effects of microgravity on the human body, particularly in the context of long-duration space flights.

The record for the longest space-flight is held by physician-cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov. Back in 1994-95, he spent 437 days on the Mir space station and grew 4 centimetres in height through elongation of his spine in micro-gravity. Polyakov had an uncomfortable ride back to Earth in the very precisely customised descent module. Microgravity also causes demineralization of weight-bearing bones that is faster than age-related decline. But the cosmonaut had worked out religiously for the en...

Topics covered

• space medicine
• microgravity effects
• physiology
• remote practice
• health

Keywords

• Valeri Polyakov
• 437 days
• Mir space station
• spine elongation
• demineralization
• weight-bearing bones
• exercise in space

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Earth

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