NASA's study showed spaceflight's limited long-term health effects

NASA studied astronaut Scott Kelly after he spent 340 days in space. His identical twin brother, Mark Kelly, stayed on Earth. This unique situation allowed NASA to compare the health effects of long-term space travel. In March 2015, Scott launched to the International Space Station with Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko. The mission aimed to understand how the human body reacts to the harsh conditions of space. During their stay, they conducted nearly 400 experiments to gather important health data. Both twins underwent various tests before, during, and after the mission. These tests included blood, urine, and cognitive assessments. The goal was to see how Scott's extended time in space affected his body compared to Mark's time on Earth. The results, published in 'The Twin Study,' revealed interesting insights. Scott did not show significant long-term health issues after his time in space. His immune system returned to normal conditions quickly after he returned to Earth. One surprising finding was related to Scott's telomeres, the protective caps on DNA. Instead of shortening, which usually happens with age, Scott's telomeres lengthened. This unexpected result could have implications for aging and health risks. NASA scientists expressed excitement about the findings. They noted that the human body can adapt well to the conditions of space. Most changes observed in Scott returned to normal shortly after he landed back on Earth. Overall, this research will inform future space missions, especially those aimed at Mars.