2023-07-31 10:01:28
Since 1969, a total of twelve men have set foot on the Moon. The first having been Neil Armstrong during the Apollo 11 mission and the last Harrison Schmitt in 1972. However, following having taken this “great step for Humanity”, they all, without exception, were struck on their return by the same evil. Which ? A rather strange pathology, “lunar hay fever”.
What is it regarding ? This condition resembles allergic rhinitis. Thus all the astronauts suffered from sneezing, nasal congestion, and inflammation of the pharynx, for several days.
Dust fifty times smaller than a human hair
Of course, we tried to identify the causes. Result ? It’s the particles on the astronauts’ spacesuits that are to blame. While walking on our natural satellite, these men suspended lunar dust. The low gravity of the Moon (1/6th of Earth’s gravity) kept them suspended for a very long time. This is why this dust fifty times smaller than a human hair has managed to infiltrate everywhere, in gloves and visors. They were therefore breathed in by the astronauts.
Moreover, the Moon has no atmosphere and is constantly bombarded by solar radiation which electrostatically charges the ground. So much so that dust can levitate there, making it even more likely to get inside astronauts’ equipment and lungs.
What exactly does this dust contain to be so harmful? Silicate, common salt on volcanic soils. We know that on Earth, minors who breathe it experience the same type of ailments as astronauts. However, the exact damage is not yet known, although long-term exposure appears to affect lung and brain cells.
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#disease #affects #walked #moon
