Hibernating astronauts may use less oxygen and wake up fitter than traditional spacefarers.
Key Takeaways
- ESA researchers suggest human hibernation trials could begin within a decade, opening possibilities for deep space travel.
- Induced hibernation could make year-long trips to Mars more cost-efficient and safer for astronauts.
- Hibernating astronauts may retain muscle and bone mass, unlike those awake in microgravity conditions.
- Preliminary studies show success in inducing torpor in non-hibernating animals like rats using drugs and environmental changes.
- This technology could revolutionize not only space exploration but also medicine, from ICU care to organ transplants.
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The European Space Agency (ESA) believes that human hibernation, or torpor, could become a reality within a decade. Long seen as a sci-fi trope, hibernation is now being explored for practical use in space missions. Jennifer Ngo-Anh, ESA’s Human and Robotic Exploration coordinator, revealed that trials with human subjects could begin by the mid-2030s, provided sufficient funding is available.
The potential advantages for space travel are immense. Hibernation could transform long missions, such as the year-long journey to Mars, by reducing the need for food, water, and oxygen. Astronauts in torpor would also experience less muscle and bone degradation compared to those awake in microgravity. Unlike patients recovering from long illnesses, animals waking from hibernation retain high levels of fitness and cognitive ability.
Initial animal studies have already demonstrated success. Researchers induced hibernation in rats using neurotransmitter drugs, combined with reduced light exposure and cooler environments. While promising, maintaining the state requires constant signaling, raising concerns about long-term side effects.
Implications for Space and Medicine
The potential applications of hibernation go beyond space exploration. In space, torpor could protect astronauts from radiation, a major concern during long missions. Studies suggest that slowed cellular processes during hibernation make the body more resistant to damage. Hibernation’s benefits also extend to medicine. Patients in long-term bed rest or medical comas suffer rapid muscle and bone loss, but torpor could slow degradation significantly. This “pause button” could buy time for critical treatments, such as organ transplants or cancer therapies.
Experts like Jürgen Bereiter-Hahn and Alexander Choukèr stress the challenges ahead. Hibernation in space would need to function without complex life-support systems. Yet, they remain optimistic, citing parallels with the development of anesthesia—widely used despite incomplete understanding of its mechanisms.
As ESA continues research, the journey from animal trials to human application remains uncertain. Still, with its potential to revolutionize both space travel and medicine, human hibernation is closer to becoming a reality than ever before.
