PREPARATION FOR CIVILIAN SPACE TRAVEL

Civilian space travel entails space tourism, an act of human space travel for recreation purposes. When one talks about a space journey, preparation is what comes into the human mind. Now, in response to human anxiety and curiosity about preparation for civilian space travel, here is a “big question”:

What are various necessary preparations for civilian space travel?

1.MENTAL PREPARATION

What is mental preparation? Most people would say, setting your mind on the subject event? This can be as well true. Mental practice can be a psychological awareness to one’s mind concerning a particular event or an activity.

1.1 FAMILIARIZATION WITH THE ALIEN ENVIRONMENT

The biggest problems that upcoming space tourists may encounter are related to brain teasing. It becomes difficult for many people to shift their minds from one different situation to another. In most cases, it will require a lot of commitment to adapt to the alien space environment psychologically. It doesn’t sound very comforting for some people to be at a new place, especially places with unique historical travel-like spaces. To other people, it’s still amazing.

1.2 ISOLATION PERIOD

Considering the duration that space explorers will dwell there, it can still be another problem as most people are so adaptive to their natural environment. To overcome this perspective, one should thoroughly prepare his mind for change of environmental factors, that is, physical, biological, and artificial factors. It would be helpful if you considered these practice to achieve greatness in life in space:

• Setting trip schedules.
• Move to new and unique places.
• Interact and try to adapt to the new places.
• Admit that you are worth staying in that new place.
• Try a different kind of survival mechanism.
• Evaluate yourself on the adaptation level.
• Going back to your former place and try staying without the affection of the newly learned site.

1.3 EARTH SPACE CONNECTION

Due to the long separation distance between the earth and space, some activities may lag behind others at an approximately reasonable length of time. This is so discouraging to a person who has lived in the current earth’s efficient and effective established technology. To prepare for this, one should consider the following laws.

• Delay law. This entails the time delay allowed by the earth’s law and space for information to be delivered.
• Nature law. This always motivates by realizing that he/she cannot change the set nature of a situation.
• Time law. One should always believe that possible things shall come out even if it takes.

Besides that, one can join other space tourists to share ideas to train together to be a strong team. Trying to cope with prevailing new tools and equipment that you encounter daily with a slight phobia is another critical thing in psychological preparation for civilian space travel. This is because all space tools and equipment are unique to most people who are not fans of space groups and, most importantly, those who have never been in the space before.

In conclusion, mental preparedness is an effective tool for civilian space travel and any other space travel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 PHYSICAL PREPARATION

Physical training encloses all the complex biological processes of preparing astronauts in different continents on how to handle the stress and other physical mechanisms in spaceflight and other exterior occasions.

2.1 LAUNCH AND LANDING

As to most human beings, there is a psychological response, either negative or positive, once exposed to a new environment; some of these psychological responses are known as external factors. For instance, space is not the same as earth, and a passenger will face some unique challenges while traversing these two different environments. The challenges include:

• Traveling sicknesses. This is a type of motion sickness that occurs when one’s background seems to be moving but to the body is a reverse case. This sickness is familiar to most space passengers. This happens most as they try to adapt to weightlessness once in orbit. Motion sickness occurs when the vestibular and visual systems lack homogeneity casting one’s body and environment. Below are the remedies.

1. Try relaxing.
2. Stay away from oily food.
3. Avoid screens and books.

• Gravitational variation. It is accurate to say that gravitation acceleration reduces with altitude. But that does not contribute to the weightlessness that space travelers encounter in space. Now the biggest question that, what affects gravity in space? Space being a vacuum, there is little or no air, which causes zero gravity. Coping with zero gravity:

1. Travel to space to experience weightlessness.
2. Practice the feeling of free fall at different angles and heights.

2.2 SPACECRAFT OPERATIONS

Space travelers are trained to deal with the spaceflight at both mechanical and engineering levels. Every astronaut is equipped and familiarized with the basic operations of basic subsystems of a spaceflight first. These basic subsystems include basic space emergency operations like;

1. Fire response.
3. Space programs.
4. Spacecraft systems are fundamental.
5. System engineering.

Advanced physical training on the spacecraft is also instilled. This training is focused on mission objectives but as well strengthens and emphasizes basic training.

2.3 EXTERNAL EVENTS.

External events are composed of what happens outside the spaceflight and to shed more light is what happens during the astronaut’s interaction with space. Bearing in mind that space is a vacuum with little or no air, space travelers are equipped with the knowledge of interacting with this alien environment. Most human beings have a life span after exposure to space. This raises so much concern and builds a lot of zeal for the astronaut to be well trained on using space equipment while outside the spaceflight.

It also important to note that astronauts do engage in co-space exploration activities like;

• Play and listen to music.
• Read books.
• Playing cards.
• Talk to their families.

These co-space exploration practices help them maintain their body shape, health, and body fitness as well. It is important to note that engaging in physical training before space travel is of vital significance as at the back of our minds we know:

1. No machine is 100 % efficient.
2. Every person is responsible for the environment they are in and should fix it once required.
3. Machine knowledge is of meaningful use in every activity.
4. One can meet him/ herself in a personal situation with little or no room for the consultant.

 

 

 

 

3 WEIGTLESSNESS TRAINING FOR CIVILIAN SPACE TRAVEL

Zero gravity is when a body does not feel the effects of gravity in its physical state in space. To counter these, astronauts undergo weightlessness training. Gravity tends to pull things towards the center of the earth, which is not similar in space.

This training mainly should commence two years before the official space travel. To partake in this training, astronauts have to:

Fly on planes tend to move at varying decreasing heights (from around 34000 feet to 24000 feet) at a reducing angle of -180⁰ to -225⁰ and +180⁰ to +135⁰ (assuming the plane is bowing at a straight line) so that force acts on them in a lifting manner. This puts the astronauts in a zero-gravity condition for more than 21 seconds. (www.britannica.com)

• They spend more time in giant water tanks where they practice spacewalks.
• Spacewalks take astronauts a relevant length of time of 5 to 8 hours.

Considering how complicated is this weightless training for spacewalks, we need to look at its impacts on space travel and space jobs.

3.1 RELIEVING THE STRESS OF THE SPACEFLIGHT

This training helps astronauts to deal with the stress of the spacecraft in general terms. Some strains of the spacecraft comprise of:

1. Motion sickness.
2. Zero gravity experience.
3. Immune system weakening.
4. Increased stress.
5. Downregulation of antioxidant systems.

Reference: Chicago, Crucian et al. (2014)

Proper and equipped training assures astronauts a productive trip in terms of the tasks that they will carry out. One can work well in conducive conditions of the physical, psychological, and social environment, and the same case applies to the astronauts.

3.2 HORMONAL PARAMETERS

It is significant to the physical state of the body and of great use when it comes to preventing a weak immune system during space travel.

The current information on hormonal parameters is correlated to those of resistant variations.

Spaceflight is associated with more immunological complications, which are minimized by this training.

However, there is no devised formula of hiding from body nature that is 100% effective unless a spaceflight maintained by an immune system is built.

3.3 PSYCHOLOGICAL ADAPTATION

Space and earth are two different environments with the human’s exposure being considered.

During space travel, a human body gives an alien psychological response associated with the change of environment known as motion sickness. This occurs as a result of motion in vision and concerning the body’s physical state.

Therefore, this is a great tool to prepare for the inconveniences that accrue from motion sickness and psychological disorientation.

3.4 SPACE INFORMATION UPDATE

Keeping astronauts updated with recent information about space is one of the most remarkable things inaugurated in training.

This involves all the data that has been collected since 1961, when the first human spacecraft happened to be.

Many years ago, astronauts’ information was obtained from the first human spaceflight and then filtered to give an instrumental piece in space adventures.

Various experiments conducted in the Spacelab have helped get this vital piece of physiological measurements of microgravity.

Astronauts are familiarized with these essential parts of space interaction with humankind.

 

 

 

4 LIST OF ITEMS TO PACK ON CIVILIAN SPACE TRAVEL

The purpose of investigating this list is to maximize on self-arrangement of space items. This is also aimed at aligning astronauts on what is necessary for them to pack during civilian space travel. The consistent theoretical shelf-space allocations aim to equip astronauts with a list of best items to include in the packing list for space travel. Firstly, it is essential to note that one requires everything that human beings need to live in an environment that lacks basic needs and gravity. While in space, one requires more than enough.

4.1 A SPACE SHIP

As earlier noted, space is never friendly to human beings since it’s never their natural home or habitat. Therefore one needs a spaceship that acts as a protective cover since human beings can survive in space for a short life span of fewer than 15 seconds. In most scenario, the space ship resembles a bodysuit that covers your body or a space station that supplies occupants with water and oxygen,

4.2 SANITISATION AND HEALTH KITS

Individual cleanliness is vital in space more than it is on earth or equally crucial. Soaps and sanitizers that work with less or no water qualify for the list. Toothbrushes and toothpaste are highly regarded for inclusion, as teeth require their hygiene maintained or else punish the owner and the counterparts with bad breath and to the faulty ones toothache.

4.3 MUSIC INSTRUMENTS

Playing music is the most outstanding therapy that can be offered by astronauts whenever in space travel. Music has served as an art of hearts to many since it is essential for psychological engineering, especially with earth-connected life. Instruments such as flutes, pianos, cameras, and compatible discs are useful in musical treatment and relaxation during space travel.

4.4 FOOD AND WATER

Every astronaut is entitled to a proper supply of food and clean water as these two essentials are necessities to good health and life. The fare to carried should not be watery and should not be so heavy for astronauts who go to space for a short period. Those space travelers who go to space on a long-term basis should include a well-balanced diet in the list composed of different types of spicy foodstuffs but light.

Kirsh, D. (1995). The intelligent use of space. Artificial intelligence, 73(1-2), 31-68.

4.5 OXYGEN

It to be one of the essential things that one should carry since space is a vacuum with no breathable air. The breathable air supports human life here on earth, and since this component is unavailable in space, astronauts should carry their own. Failure to maintain this shows that one is going for a deadly mission. Just like food and water, oxygen is another significant component for one to survive in space.

4.6 WASTE DISPOSAL

Waste is so hazardous to human life and requires a proper disposal method. Once kept in imperfect ways, it may spread many sicknesses through the bacteria composed in it. This waste includes the excreted, and the used materials should be handled with care while disposing of. Commendable waste management criteria are an assurance of good physical and mental health.

 

 

5 EXCLUSION LIST OF ITEMS FOR CIVILIAN SPACE TRAVEL

In most cases, items that appear on this list are dangerous and risky when found in the space trip’s shelf-space allocation. Their effects vary from zero to extreme at a single spillage, and others are not consumable due to gravity laws. Floating pieces of some items can damage the space equipment.

5.1 CARBONATED SOFT DRINKS

Carbonated soft drinks such as Sodas are not supposed to be carried in space since they are complicated and difficult to consume. The consumption of Soda is limited by the condition of the zero gravity in space. This is because carbonation and Soda are inseparable in the place of microgravity. Soda consumption may result in carbon dioxide being accumulated in the digestive system causing varying side effects.

5.2 INK PEN

Pens are not used in space since they cannot write upside down as the ink does not flow out due to zero gravity in space. Therefore one should carry a pen with a pressurized cartridge if necessary or a pencil.

5.3 BREAD AND SALT

Some fears emanate from the floating pieces of salt and bread, damaging the space equipment or astronauts when accidentally inhaled. One can replace these two foodstuffs with any reasonable and acceptable item in space for the benefit of the doubt.

5.4 PEPPER

The primary reason behind its burn is that it has a higher floating ability, which dissipates many fears among the spacecraft management and exposes astronauts to more dangers of health.

5.5 CLOTHING AND WASH KITS

These items are always packed and set for space travelers in the International Space Station. Things such as clothing are accurately and adequately set for different people since their sizes are known. It can be another case considering the wash kits since astronauts may like various components from what is not in the wash kit; thus, the items may be changed by the management.

5.6 BIG BAGS AND HEAVY LUGGAGE

The astronauts are advised to carry small bags with personal items since the large bags and heavier ones accustom the rocket management to high checking expenses. Also, they are expensive to transport.

5.7 SMALL POUCHES

Small pouches do float quickly and randomly at the microgravity experience, which may also cause the effect of damaging the space equipment.

It is important to note that items that are addressed not to be carried in space should not be accepted since they seem to be small but may cause great destruction in the International Space Station. Every astronaut should consider the impact of these little things in space without looking back at how easily human beings interact with them here on earth and how useful they are.

It is good to consider the consumable materials that should not be taken to space since one may consume them and develop complications while in the space. Apart from considering the few listed items, astronauts should prepare themselves psychologically on the dos and don’ts in space and get conversant with the shape-retaining mechanism. All kinds of preparation before space travel are beneficial and should be considered.