Scientists told about the main danger for the health of astronauts
The microorganisms living in the air and on the surface of a spacecraft can carry a greater health risk to astronauts than the radiation and weightlessness.
This is evidenced by the results of the experiment carried out in the framework of the project “Mars 500” in 2010-2011, reports the Guardian.
Scientists from the Centre for altitude, space and extreme medicine at University College London noted that on Earth the bacteria will not cause problems such as in space, where the environment is completely different.
Has previously been shown that in space the crew lowered the activity of the immune system, as pathogenic bacteria develop increased resistance to antibiotics.
A new study published in the journal Microbiome, will help to better assess the risks and take action in planning future space missions, maintaining a balanced microbial environment in the course of the flight.
“We need to make sure that we know what microorganisms are in the air and on surfaces can be transferred between crew members,” explained Peter, Svejnar, astrobiologist at the University of Edinburgh.
The study was conducted in Moscow for 520 days (approximately 17 months). Six crew members were locked in a model of a spacecraft with an area of about 180 sq. m.
Scientists collected and processed 360 samples of microorganisms from 20 different places. The analysis showed that among groups of bacteria on different surfaces is dominated by staphylococci and bacilli.
Earlier it was reported that Russia will be the map of the Universe. Next year our country is going to launch a unique x-ray telescope that will help to understand the mysteries of the universe.