The European Space Agency (ESA) has made a breakthrough that could revolutionize space travel. According to a report by Space, the ESA has successfully tested a method of hibernation for astronauts that could make long-distance space travel more feasible.
The principle behind the idea is similar to the hibernation depicted in movies like “Awakening” and “Alien.” Astronauts would be put into a sleep mode for the duration of the journey, allowing them to travel unconscious over long distances, such as the trip to Mars, which takes about a year.
Successful Tests on Animals
The ESA has already conducted successful tests on animals, hibernating rats, which is not a typical process for them. The rodents were put into a state of sleep by reducing their exposure to daylight and feeding them intensely followed by a period of strict starvation. The animals were then given a drug that acted as a neurotransmitter substance, and they were placed in a dark space with a reduced temperature. The rats were brought out of their hibernation state without complications after a few days.
According to the ESA research team member, Jürgen Bereiter-Hahn, the problem is that use of the signaling molecule to maintain the condition can have harmful effects in the long run. The team has planned to carry out similar tests on humans in the next decade and put people into hibernation for the first time, sending them to space in 2030. The success of the project depends on the availability of funding, said ESA research coordinator Jennifer Ngo-An.
Benefits of Hibernation for Space Travel
The benefits of hibernation for space travel are enormous. Apart from saving costs on food, drink, and oxygen, hibernation can also prevent boredom and keep astronauts alert without the side effects of prolonged sleep or living in microgravity. Astronauts lose up to 20% of muscle mass per month in the International Space Station, even with high-tech simulators and strict exercise protocols.
In addition to that, the hibernation process could also slow down the aging process, as all the cells almost stop working. Studies on animals have shown that the bodies in torpor are depleted much less than those awakened in microgravity, making them less susceptible to radiation, one of the biggest health problems during spaceflight.
Space exploration has long been an intriguing field of study for scientists around the world. The ESA plans to carry out further research and tests to refine the hibernation process and make it safe for human use.
