Astronaut Scott Kelly holds the record for the most consecutive days spent in outer space, but it's an achievement that unfortunately comes with a high cost. Upon returning home to Earth, Kelly now suffers numerous health problems caused by living in space, but he expected as much when he signed up for his 340-day mission.
Scientists studying the effects of outer space on the human body hope that Kelly's readjustment to Earth will help them better understand how living sans gravity affects a person's health. Kelly, who has an identical twin brother who also happens to be an astronaut, makes for a perfect subject when examining space-related health issues; both he and his brother, who spent six months in space, could shed light on the short and long-term health problems caused by outer space.
After spending a year back on Earth, Kelly now shares his health struggles in a new book entitled Endurance. Scott Kelly's health problems sound absolutely grueling, and he will face issues with his health for the rest of his life. Space already sounds scary enough, and the effects of space on Scott Kelly's body show living in zero gravity comes with zero health perks.
Legs Like "Alien Stumps" And Ankles Swollen To A Bursting Point
“I can feel the tissue in my legs swelling. I shuffle my way to the bath room, moving my weight from one foot to the other with deliberate effort. Left. Right. Left. Right. I make it to the bathroom, flip on the light, and look down at my legs. They are swollen and alien stumps, not legs at all. 'Oh sh*t,' I say. 'Amiko, come look at this.' She kneels down and squeezes one ankle, and it squishes like a water balloon. She looks up at me with worried eyes. 'I can't even feel your ankle bones,' she says.”
A Burning Rash All Over His Skin
“'My skin is burning, too,' I tell her. Amiko frantically examines me. I have a strange rash all over my back, the backs of my legs, the back of my head and neck – everywhere I was in contact with the bed. I can feel her cool hands moving over my inflamed skin. 'It looks like an allergic rash,' she says. 'Like hives.'”
An Extremely High Risk of Cancer
“I had been exposed to more than 30 times the radiation of a person on Earth, equivalent to about 10 chest X-rays every day. This exposure would increase my risk of a fatal cancer for the rest of my life.”
Relentless Very High Fever
“'Amiko,'" I finally manage to say. She is alarmed by the sound of my voice. 'What is it?' Her hand is on my arm, then on my forehead. Her skin feels chilled, but it's just that I'm so hot. 'I don't feel good,' I say.”
A Terrifying Rush of Blood to the Legs
“I struggle to get up. Find the edge of the bed. Feet down. Sit up. Stand up. At every stage I feel like I'm fighting through quicksand. When I'm finally vertical, the pain in my legs is awful, and on top of that pain I feel a sensation that's even more alarming: it feels as though all the blood in my body is rushing to my legs, like the sensation of the blood rushing to your head when you do a handstand, but in reverse.”
Waves of Nausea Far Worse Than After the Previous Mission
“I've only been asleep for a couple of hours but I feel delirious. It's a struggle to come to consciousness enough to move, to tell her [Amiko] how awful I feel. I'm seriously nauseated now, feverish, and my pain has gotten worse. This isn't like how I felt after my last mission. This is much, much worse.”
Muscles and Joints Feeling Prematurely Aged
“It's March 2016, and I've been back on Earth, after a year in space, for precisely 48 hours. I push back from the table and struggle to stand up, feeling like a very old man getting out of a recliner.”
An Overwhelming Nausea from the Crushing Pressure of Gravity
“Every part of my body hurts. All my joints and all of my muscles are protesting the crushing pressure of gravity. I'm also nauseated, though I haven't thrown up. I strip off my clothes and get into bed, relishing the feeling of sheets, the light pressure of the blanket over me, the fluff of the pillow under my head.”
A Terrifying Rush of Blood to the Legs
“I struggle to get up. Find the edge of the bed. Feet down. Sit up. Stand up. At every stage I feel like I'm fighting through quicksand. When I'm finally vertical, the pain in my legs is awful, and on top of that pain I feel a sensation that's even more alarming: it feels as though all the blood in my body is rushing to my legs, like the sensation of the blood rushing to your head when you do a handstand, but in reverse.”
Waves of Nausea Far Worse Than After the Previous Mission
“I've only been asleep for a couple of hours but I feel delirious. It's a struggle to come to consciousness enough to move, to tell her [Amiko] how awful I feel. I'm seriously nauseated now, feverish, and my pain has gotten worse. This isn't like how I felt after my last mission. This is much, much worse.”
Muscles and Joints Feeling Prematurely Aged
“It's March 2016, and I've been back on Earth, after a year in space, for precisely 48 hours. I push back from the table and struggle to stand up, feeling like a very old man getting out of a recliner.”
An Overwhelming Nausea from the Crushing Pressure of Gravity
“Every part of my body hurts. All my joints and all of my muscles are protesting the crushing pressure of gravity. I'm also nauseated, though I haven't thrown up. I strip off my clothes and get into bed, relishing the feeling of sheets, the light pressure of the blanket over me, the fluff of the pillow under my head.”