đ Long missions in space may leave a lasting mark on astronautsâ bones.
New research has found that astronauts who spent more than 90 days in space had higher rates of hip fractures after returning to Earth than those who completed shorter missions or had no spaceflight exposure.
Even more concerning, the fractures occurred at younger ages than expected compared with non-astronaut populations.
The findings highlight an important challenge as human spaceflight moves toward increasingly long missions. Researchers say astronauts may feel recovered after returning to Earth even when their bones have not completely regained their preflight condition.
Scientists are now calling for more detailed monitoring of astronauts' skeletal health and further research into potential protective measures, including exercise, medications and dietary strategies.
As missions to the Moon and eventually Mars become longer, protecting astronauts' bones could become an increasingly important part of human space exploration. đđŽ
