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Astronauts
spend much of their day working on missions, and their sleep is no different.
Whether they sleep in their own cabin on the Space shuttle or in a module in
the International Space Station (ISS), they are subjected to sleep deprivation.
Here are some tips to help astronauts sleep peacefully in space.
Space shuttle astronauts sleep in their own cabin or in an ISS module
A
space shuttle crew can sleep almost anywhere in the ship. The astronauts can
strap themselves in their seats and attach sleeping bags to the walls. They
avoid sleeping in the cockpit because sunlight will heat up the area.
Alternatively, they can sleep in an ISS module or their own cabin. The American
crew members sleep in soundproof private cabins that are attached to the walls.
Sleeping
in space is much different than sleep on Earth, because astronauts are
weightless and cannot coordinate their sleep rhythm with the sun's. The
spacesuits they wear are called extravehicular mobility units, and they attach
to the walls, seats, or bunk beds. Typically, astronauts get eight hours of
sleep per day and may wake up to use the equipment in the module or work.
ISS astronauts experience sleep deprivation
Sleep
deprivation is an issue that astronauts on board the International Space
Station experience on a daily basis. The astronauts are supposed to get about
8.5 hours of sleep per day but in reality they often get less than half that
amount. They are also subjected to constant noise, low air circulation, and
variable temperature. This is not a good situation and it can lead to nagging
headaches and other physical ailments.
The
ISS astronauts are not only exposed to the harsh environment of space, but also
to intense stress and work overload. Their circadian rhythms are disrupted,
causing them to experience sleep loss and fatigue. This can affect the accuracy
of their judgment and reaction time and can cause a significant impairment in
performance.
As
a result, astronauts must make sure they get enough rest to prevent fatigue.
Sleep deprivation can also affect their morale. Because sleep is so vital to
our health, it's important to keep astronauts' circadian rhythms in sync. Sleep
deprivation can lead to errors when doing critical tasks and can affect the
safety of flight missions.
Scientists
are investigating the effects of sleep deprivation in space on astronauts. NASA
has summarized the results of seven studies on sleep in space and found that
astronauts slept for on average six hours per day.
Workload affects astronauts' sleep
The
schedules and rigorous work environments experienced by astronauts aboard the
International Space Station (ISS) may disrupt astronauts' sleep and
performance. A number of studies have identified workload as a factor in the
loss of astronauts' sleep. These studies have also revealed that astronauts'
workload affects their somatic behaviors and the amount of sleep they are able
to get.
During
their preflight and spaceflight intervals, NASA collected data on astronauts'
sleep patterns. In total, 206 24-hour autography and photometry recordings met
inclusion criteria and were analyzed using the CPSS algorithm. The results of
these studies are summarized in Table 2.
Researchers
found that astronauts' sleep duration was significantly shorter during flights
when the vehicle was docked with the ISS and undocked. The results also showed
that astronauts were less likely to sleep when the vehicle was misaligned
during an EVA. The researchers concluded that astronauts may be more prone to
sleep issues than they previously thought.
A
lack of sleep is a serious problem for astronauts. The space environment
disrupts their circadian rhythms, making astronauts more likely to suffer from
sleep problems. Some astronauts report losing six to eight hours of sleep or
more every night. These astronauts also experience sleep inertia, a feeling of
grogginess after waking up from deep sleep.
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