Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) complain of headaches. These statements led to controversies between Russian and US scientists.
So, American scientists argue that the cause of space migraine was the increased content of carbon dioxide in the station’s atmosphere. Requirements to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) levels were put forward by NASA back in 2008 after a series of complaints from some astronauts about headaches at agreed CO2 levels of 5-6 millimeters of mercury.
Nevertheless, no medical examination of the crew was carried out to determine the possible causes of the headache, as stated in the report of specialists from the Energia Rocket and Space Corporation (Roscosmos enterprise) in the journal Manned Space Flights.
They recalled that in the future, according to the requirements of the American side, the limit of CO2 content in the ISS atmosphere was consistently reduced to 4.5, to 4, and then to 3.2-3.3. It is currently maintained at less than 3 millimeters of mercury. However, complaints from a number of astronauts about headaches continue.
Now further adjustments to the flight rules by the American side could be expected. In particular, there could be a further decrease in the carbon dioxide content. The report recalled that in the American SMAC standard for a flight duration of 1000 days, the CO2 content is set at 2 millimeters of mercury.
Overall, NASA has been conducting research on carbon dioxide (CO2) levels on board the space station for 20 years. Episodes of bouts of malaise were seen in two cases. This was when the astronauts were working in a confined space with insufficient air, as well as when the crew was in one place.
According to American experts, after an increase in CO2 concentration, the quality of sleep in astronauts deteriorates. Irritability and fatigue also increase. Headache appears.
However, Russian and foreign cosmonauts did not complain of a headache with an average CO2 content in the atmosphere of the stations of about 6 millimeters of mercury. This was recalled in Roskosmos. As a result, Russian scientists believe that a possible cause of headaches for US astronauts was the effect of weightlessness. It leads to a rush of blood to the head. It also leads to the fact that in a dream, astronauts inhale exhaled air with an increased content of carbon dioxide.
Earlier, Sergei Krikalev, advisor to the general director of Roscosmos, announced to reporters the details of the research designed to find out the cause of cracks in the Russian Zvezda module on the International Space Station. At the moment, the version of metal fatigue is excluded. At the same time, the body used up its resource by 40-50%.
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