20. How long do we have to stay inside the spaceship? (A K2S Question)

From The Space Library

How long we would have to stay inside a spaceship would depend on where we were traveling, or, if it were a manned space platform, how soon before the relief ship came and our work there was completed. As long as the physical needs of human beings are met they could, in principle, live inside a spacecraft for entire lifetimes. Of course several medical issues would need to be solved first, such as surviving in weightlessness and the radiation environment, but if there is enough food, water, and space available we are not limited. However the psychological needs of humans must also be considered. Being inside an enclosed spaceship, unless it is city-sized, would affect all of us over long periods. Humans crave fresh air and outside spaces and after a few years this could start to bother future space travelers.

---

Answer provided by Hazel McAndrews

Question and Answer extracted from the book Kids to Space - by Lonnie Schorer

Buy This Book Click here