太空旅行讓人體處在極端的環境中，這對人的身體和心理健康都有可能造成傷害。本期 “隨身英語” 介紹宇航員在太空中可能遇到的健康問題，並討論關註宇航員的健康對航空事業和醫療科學發展的意義。
詞匯：space travel 太空旅行
Astronaut Frank Rubiales has returned to Earth after 371 days in space. It was only supposed to be 180, but a technical fault stopped him from returning as planned. Unlucky for him, but very lucky for scientists who want to see what effects spending an extended time in space has on the human body.
Being in space can affect both physical and mental health. Weightlessness caused by a lack of gravity can lead to a loss of bone and muscle mass. Astronauts are recommended 150 minutes of exercise per day to counteract this. Also, space traveller’s eyes can be affected by the way that fluids act in zero-gravity. Outside the protection of the Earth’s atmosphere, astronauts are exposed to much higher levels and different forms of solar radiation. This can potentially cause long-term health problems, such as cancer.
It’s not just physical health that is affected by being in space. Our mental health can be damaged if we don’t get enough sleep. On earth, our bodies respond through circadian rhythms to the Sun rising and setting to help us sleep, but astronauts on board the International Space Station see 16 sunsets and sunrises every day. This means that avoiding sleep deprivation is a challenge. Isolation, and spending all your time with a small group of people can also affect mental health. Along with isolation, is the pressure that comes from being constantly monitored by experts back on Earth. With possible future missions to Mars predicted to last three years, tensions within the crew could become heightened. Astronaut Harry Hartfield reports an example of this where a colleague threatened to open the airlock and drain the oxygen from the spacecraft.
Developing new techniques and technology to support astronauts’ health will enable more ambitious future missions. It can also help those of us who are staying on Earth. The Canadian Space Agency is using its expertise to improve health care for people living in remote regions. The technology that supports robots used in space is now being used in surgery in normal hospitals, while pressure suits are being used to treat post-pregnancy complications.
詞匯表
astronaut 宇航員
technical fault 技術故障
physical health 身體健康
mental health 心理健康
weightlessness 失重狀態
lack of gravity 失重
muscle mass 肌肉量
exposed to 使…暴露於
solar radiation 太陽輻射
cancer 癌癥
circadian rhythm 晝夜節律
International Space Station 國際空間站
sleep deprivation 睡眠不足
isolation 與世隔絕
monitored 被監測
tension 緊張關系，人際矛盾
airlock 氣閘艙
spacecraft 宇宙飛船
pressure suit 加壓服
post-pregnancy complication 產後並發癥
測驗與練習
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. How long was Frank Rubiales’ mission originally planned to be?
2. Why was the technical fault lucky for scientists?
3. How much exercise should astronauts do per day?
4. How many sunrises does an astronaut see every day on the International Space Station?
5. What equipment from space missions is now being used in healthcare on Earth?
2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。
1. Oh no! The computer has developed a _______.
lack of gravity technical fault monitor tension
2. _______ help our body regulate sleep patterns.
Sleep deprivations Isolations Circadian rhythms Weightlessness
3. Astronauts are often _______ to dangerous situations.
monitored deprived pressured exposed
4. The _______ keeps oxygen on board the spacecraft.
airlock technical fault pressure suit monitor
5. Exercise can help build _______.
circadian rhythm isolation muscle mass weightlessness
答案
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. How long was Frank Rubiales’ mission originally planned to be?
It was supposed to last 180 days.
2. Why was the technical fault lucky for scientists?
Because they could learn about the effects of spending a long time in space.
3. How much exercise should astronauts do per day?
They are recommended 150 minutes of exercise per day.
4. How many sunrises does an astronaut see every day on the International Space Station?
An astronaut sees 16 sunsets and sunrises every day on the International Space Station.
5. What equipment from space missions is now being used in healthcare on Earth?
Pressure suits are being used to treat post-pregnancy complications.
2. 選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。
1. Oh no! The computer has developed a technical fault.
2. Circadian rhythms help our body regulate sleep patterns.
3. Astronauts are often exposed to dangerous situations.
4. The airlock keeps oxygen on board the spacecraft.
5. Exercise can help build muscle mass.
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