Astronauts have problems with their finger nails during spacewalks.
Space is not the most comfortable environment for humans. If there are no normal earthly conditions, including the usual gravity, then a person begins to experience health problems. First of all, it concerns the loss of bone and muscle density. Studies show that another disadvantage of being in space, especially when astronauts leave the International Space Station, is that their fingernails simply fall off. This pathology is called onycholysis, and the problem seems to be more related to pressure than gravity, ScienceAlert writes.
There is very little ambient pressure in space, and this has a negative effect on the human body. To ensure maximum safety during spacewalks, astronauts’ spacesuits are constantly under pressure. But when it comes down to it, problems arise.
According to NASA scientists, astronauts often suffer hand injuries during spacewalks. When spacesuit gloves are under pressure, they restrict movement, which sometimes leads to pain, muscle fatigue, and sometimes more serious injuries such as onycholysis.
Astronauts sometimes go into space for a very long time. Sometimes this process can take up to 8 hours. Therefore, prolonged wearing of gloves in outer space only exacerbates problems for the hands.
Scientists have found that spacesuit gloves limit the mobility of finger joints, which puts more pressure on the fingers, leading to reduced blood flow, tissue damage, and onycholysis.
Space suit gloves consist of at least four layers, each of which performs its own important function. The most important task of the gloves is to protect the astronaut’s hands in outer space. Scientists have found that the design of gloves plays an important role in the occurrence of hand injuries and other problems, including nail detachment, among astronauts.
The study showed that the majority of injuries occur on the middle finger. At the same time, onycholysis occurs more often in women than in men. The results show that poor glove fit may play a role in astronaut injuries.
A solution to this problem may appear soon, as NASA is creating new spacesuits designed for the Artemis program, which will first fly around the Moon and then land on its surface. This should happen in 2024 and 2025. NASA then plans to make regular flights to the Earth’s satellite to create a full-fledged permanent base there.
