Microgravity in space causes astronauts’ vertebrae to stretch, making them taller. However, it can also lead to muscle wasting and atrophy, so astronauts exercise daily. Crumbly foods are avoided to prevent equipment damage. Dr. Valeri Polyakov holds the record for the longest stay in space.
Astronauts seem to grow up in space. This is due to the effects of so-called microgravity on the vertebrae. With less gravitational pull on the vertebrae, they begin to stretch. As a result, the spine is stretched throughout the journey. When the astronaut returns to Earth, gravity once again forces the vertebrae into compression, restoring his usual height.
More facts about life in space:
In addition to allowing the vertebrae to stretch, microgravity can lead to muscle wasting and atrophy. To compensate for the effects of microgravity, astronauts perform a series of exercises every 24 hours. These exercises are designed to help maintain good cardiovascular health, promote proper blood flow to all organs, and reduce the incidence of muscle wasting and bone weakening during flight.
The record for the longest stay in space belongs to Dr. Valeri Polyakov. A Russian cosmonaut, Dr. Polyakov stayed on the Mir space station for 418 days. Mir has hosted many astronauts and cosmonauts for more than a decade.
Crumbly foods are not consumed on space missions. This is because stray crumbs can get inside your equipment and cause serious problems for essential systems. Processed foods that are self contained are staple foods because there is no possibility to escape and float away in the low gravity environment.
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