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Tim Peake faces weeks of tests to assess impact of space travel on body and mind Tim Peake faces weeks of tests to assess impact of space travel on body and mind
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British astronaut Major Tim Peake, on terra firma for the first time in six months, is to spend up to three weeks being prodded and probed by scientists and doctors as he begins to acclimatise to gravity. The British astronaut Major Tim Peake, on terra firma for the first time in six months, is to spend up to three weeks being prodded and probed by scientists and doctors as he begins to acclimatise to gravity.
As the 44-year-old spends time with his young family, researchers eager to glean crucial data on how humans adapt to living in space will be subjecting him to a battery of tests.As the 44-year-old spends time with his young family, researchers eager to glean crucial data on how humans adapt to living in space will be subjecting him to a battery of tests.
Peake, who had a bumpy landing on the Kazakh steppe on Saturday that left him and his two crew mates “a little green”, was taken to the European Space Agency’s [ESA] base in Cologne, Germany, immediately after landing. Peake, who had a bumpy landing on the Kazakh steppe on Saturday that left him and his two crewmates “a little green”, was taken to the European Space Agency’s (ESA) base in Cologne, Germany, immediately after landing.
The first British astronaut sent by the ESA to the International Space Station to compete a long-duration space mission had two priorities: The first is to enjoy time with his wife Rebecca and son’s Oliver, four, and Thomas, seven. This will be private time, with no interruptions, the ESA has pledged – though a crew surgeon will be on standby in case of medical complications. The second was to enjoy a cold beer, pizza and his first proper shower in six months. The first British astronaut sent by the ESA to the International Space Station to compete a long-duration space mission had two priorities after his return. The first was to enjoy time with his wife, Rebecca, and sons Oliver, four, and Thomas, seven. This will be private time, with no interruptions, the ESA has pledged, though a crew surgeon will be on standby in case of medical complications. The second was to enjoy a cold beer, pizza and his first proper shower in six months.
But then Peake will be at the mercy of researchers at the aerospace medical unit gathering data on how the body and mind react to prolonged time in space.But then Peake will be at the mercy of researchers at the aerospace medical unit gathering data on how the body and mind react to prolonged time in space.
“His work will be far from finished”, the ESA has stated. “Many scientists will be eager to get more data on how his body and mind have reacted to his time in space. But first, Tim must adapt to living on Earth again.”“His work will be far from finished”, the ESA has stated. “Many scientists will be eager to get more data on how his body and mind have reacted to his time in space. But first, Tim must adapt to living on Earth again.”
Many astronauts have reported that the smells and colours of Earth strike them most after returning, and after living without a shower, in recycled air and drinking recycled water, it is the simple pleasures and senses in life that are most welcome, according to the ESA. Many astronauts have reported that the smells and colours of Earth strike them most after returning, and that after living without a shower, in recycled air and drinking recycled water, it is the simple pleasures and senses in life that are most welcome, according to the ESA.
Peake is also likely to be “returning in a weakened state from living ‘without’ gravity” and will probably need a few days to “relearn how to stand up and walk” after becoming accustomed to floating effortlessly”. It said Peake was likely to be “returning in a weakened state from living without gravity” and would probably need a few days to relearn how to stand up and walk after becoming accustomed to floating effortlessly.
Standing up and balancing can be difficult because gravity affects how the fluids in our bodies behave. The amount of blood in his body is likely to have reduced by about a pint.Standing up and balancing can be difficult because gravity affects how the fluids in our bodies behave. The amount of blood in his body is likely to have reduced by about a pint.
The former helicopter test pilot will already have undergone some checks. “Some experiments demand immediate access to Tim before his body changes under the influence of gravity,” an ESA spokesperson said.The former helicopter test pilot will already have undergone some checks. “Some experiments demand immediate access to Tim before his body changes under the influence of gravity,” an ESA spokesperson said.
Over the coming days doctors will draw blood, conduct MRI scans and also interrogate Peake about his experience to better understand the psychological and physical effects of his space travel. He will be examined on a “tilt table”, which can swiftly rotate him from horizontal to vertical to monitor how his heart and blood circulation adapt to gravity again. Over the coming days doctors will draw blood, conduct MRI scans and interrogate Peake about his experience to better understand the psychological and physical effects of his space travel. He will be examined on a “tilt table”, which can swiftly rotate him from horizontal to vertical to monitor how his heart and blood circulation adapt to gravity again.
Peake described himself as “truly elated” after landing, adding: “The smells of the Earth are so strong. It’s just wonderful to feel the fresh air. I’m looking forward to seeing the family now.”Peake described himself as “truly elated” after landing, adding: “The smells of the Earth are so strong. It’s just wonderful to feel the fresh air. I’m looking forward to seeing the family now.”
He added that spending 186 days on the space station was a “life-changing experience”. “I’m going to miss the view,” he added. He said spending 186 days on the space station had been a life-changing experience. “I’m going to miss the view,” he added.
“The trip back to Earth, the three hours in the capsule, is hectic”, Stefan Ghiste, of the ESA “Direct Return Project” told Sky News. “You never know what the situation is with his body adapting to gravity.” Stefan Ghiste, of the ESA’s direct return project, told Sky News: “The trip back to Earth, the three hours in the capsule, is hectic. You never know what the situation is with his body adapting to gravity.”
While Peake was taken to Germany, his crew mates – Nasa astronaut Tim Kopra and cosmonaut commander Yuri Malenchenko – headed to Houston, Texas, and Star City, near Moscow, respectively. While Peake was taken to Germany, his crewmates – Nasa astronaut Tim Kopra and cosmonaut commander Yuri Malenchenko – headed to Houston, Texas, and Star City, near Moscow, respectively.
The trio were launched into space in December 2015. They have conducted about 250 experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science. Nasa has said the data would help in the potential development of vaccines and could be relevant in the treatment of patients suffering from ocular diseases, such as glaucoma. The trio were launched into space in December 2015. They have conducted about 250 experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science. Nasa has said the data could help in the development of vaccines and could be relevant in the treatment of patients suffering from ocular diseases, such as glaucoma.
Peake, part of the Principia mission named after Sir Isaac Newton’s landmark work on the laws of motion and gravity, will also be participating in a major debrief with mission controllers and operation support staff to understand how things went, and what can be improved for future missions. Peake, part of the Principia mission named after Sir Isaac Newton’s landmark work on the laws of motion and gravity, will participate in a debrief with mission controllers and operation support staff to understand how things went and what can be improved for future missions.
Peake, who lives with his family in Houston is the eighth ESA astronaut to complete a long-duration mission in space and is the third, after Alexander Gerst and Andreas Mogensen, to fly directly to its home base in Cologne. The Briton, who lives with his family in Houston, is the eighth ESA astronaut to complete a long-duration mission in space and the third, after Alexander Gerst and Andreas Mogensen, to fly directly to its home base in Cologne.
He is expected to give his first press conference on Tuesday. After his rehabilitation is complete, and he has finished the scientific protocol and debriefings, he will be on tour to explain what it is like to be in space. He is expected to give his first press conference on Tuesday. After his rehabilitation is complete and he has finished the scientific protocol and debriefings, he will be on tour to explain what it is like to be in space.
Peake has become the first person to be honoured in the Queen’s birthday honours list while in space, and was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for “extraordinary service beyond our planet”.Peake has become the first person to be honoured in the Queen’s birthday honours list while in space, and was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for “extraordinary service beyond our planet”.
He was not the first Briton in space, but he is Britain’s first publicly funded astronaut to be sent to the ISS. Helen Sharman visited Russia’s Mir space station in 1991 on a privately backed mission and several British-born American citizens have flown with Nasa’s space shuttle program. He was not the first Briton in space, but he is Britain’s first publicly funded astronaut to be sent to the ISS. Helen Sharman visited Russia’s Mir space station in 1991 on a privately backed mission, and several British-born American citizens have flown with Nasa’s space shuttle programme.