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Not for cryogenics, unfortunately, but yes for hibernation. NASA has funded the study of medically induced torpor for hibernating humans for deep space explorat
by Robotbeat 7y ago
Not for cryogenics, unfortunately, but yes for hibernation. NASA has funded the study of medically induced torpor for hibernating humans for deep space exploration:
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20180007195.pdf https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/201800...
If we ever do crewed interstellar travel, even if we can get the trip time down to 50 years or so, we’ll probably want something like this. But it’s useful even for Mars trips since you can fit a LOT more people in the same space.
- ekianjo 7y agoWould you need to feed nutrients people during hibernation or is that a state of extrenely low metabolism?
- Robotbeat 7y agoIt’s answered in the PDF. There’s nutrient delivery, but metabolic rate is halved so there’s less required.
- justinclift 7y agoInteresting. That PDF doesn't seem to include increased radiation exposure while having a slowed ability to repair the damage. Wonder if that's just because it's not viewed as important?
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- Robotbeat 7y agoThere may be less oxidative stress as well, so it’s tough to say what wins out. Anyway, there are methods of providing radiation shielding to occupants as well.