| Space Adaptation Syndrome |
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Space sickness was effectively unknown during the earliest spaceflights, as these were undertaken in very cramped conditions; it seems to be aggravated by being able to freely move around, and so is more common in larger spacecraft. Around 60% of all Space Shuttle astronauts currently experience it on their first flight; the first case is now suspected to be Gherman Titov , in August, 1961 onboard '' Vostok 2 '', who reported dizziness and nausea. However, the first significant cases were in early Apollo flights; Frank Borman on '' Apollo 8 '' and Rusty Schweickart on '' Apollo 9 ''. Both experienced identifiable and reasonably severe symptoms — in the latter case causing the mission plan to be modified. As with motion sickness, symptoms can vary from mild nausea and disorientation, to vomiting and intense discomfort; headaches and nausea are often reported in varying degrees. About half of sufferers experience mild symptoms; only around 10% suffer severely. The most extreme reaction yet recorded was that felt by Senator Jake Garn in 1985 — after his flight, astronauts began using the " Garn Scale " http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/oral_histories/StevensonRE/RES_5-13-99.pdf, pg 35, Johnson Space Center Oral History Project, interview with Dr. Robert Stevenson to measure reactions to space sickness. In most cases, symptoms last from 2–4 days. Modern motion-sickness medications can counter space sickness, but are rarely used — it is thought that having astronauts adapt over the first day or two is preferable to a medicated (and drowsy) state during a mission. However, Transdermal Dramamine anti-nausea patches are typically worn during launch and landing by NASA astronauts. Mission-critical activities (especially EVA , during which vomiting could be fatal) are generally not scheduled for the first days of a mission, to allow crews to adapt to zero-g. Due to the danger posed by possible vomiting in an Extravehicular Suit , transdermal dramamine patches are also typically used during EVAs, as an additional backup measure. SEE ALSO REFERENCES |
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