Voyager 1 is the farthest human-made spacecraft from Earth, over 25 billion km away, and future astronauts may take similar long journeys.
One major challenge during such space travel is thermoregulation — the body’s ability to maintain stable internal temperature in microgravity.
In space, microgravity causes fluid shifts in the body that affect heat distribution and raise core body temperature.
Researchers at Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram created a 3D computer model simulating how heat moves through the body in space, accounting for changes in metabolism, blood flow, muscle and bone loss, and sweating.
Their model found that core areas (head, abdomen) get warmer while hands and feet cool down in microgravity; body temperature rises even faster during exercise.
The model predicted a core temperature increase from 36.3°C to 37.8°C over 2.5 months in space, and up to 40°C during exercise.
The model’s accuracy was verified by comparing predictions with data from Russia’s erstwhile Mir space station and International Space Stations.
Thermoregulation models like this are also used in medicine, architecture, and clothing design to improve comfort, safety, and performance on Earth.
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