Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2013 December 18

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December 18[edit]

I am a FAT rocket man! Rocket man!!![edit]

I asked about an astronaut's contour seat cushion a couple of days ago.

Now, if an astronaut gained or lost several pounds while he/she was in space, how does he/she manage to reuse the seat cushion on the way home? In fact, people may experience minor edema in space. -- Toytoy (talk) 10:15, 18 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I'm sure the exact shape is not that critical; they have way more important things to worry about at that stage.--Shantavira|feed me 15:22, 18 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Come on! This is NASA! They not only have paperwork for this (Crew Flight Health Stabilization Program); they have an entire ground facility dedicated to monitoring flight crew health: Space and Clinical Medicine facility at Johnson Space Center. I know our OP is fooling around here, but the the take-away message - the thing to know about manned spaceflight - is that every single detail is accounted for. Nimur (talk) 15:58, 18 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
Usually anyway. Clarityfiend (talk) 18:18, 18 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]

There's a bio-suit developed by the MIT. This spacesuit uses textile pressure to support the wearer. If anyone gets too thin or too fat, it could be really dangerous. -- Toytoy (talk) 14:22, 19 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]

You can't gain a lot of weight in space because your calorie intake is monitored and controlled. and if you start eating the other astronaut's food, they will punch you in the face to stop you, because they will start going very hungry. --85.119.27.27 (talk) 17:50, 19 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]