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Effects of Zero Gravity
The physical effects of zero gravity can be dramatic:
• On returning to Earth, astronauts’ physical fitness can age as much as 30 to 40 years.
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• On Earth, it takes about 10 years to lose 10% of your aerobic capacity. In space, you can lose 25% within 7 to 14 days.
• Bone density can decrease by up to 5% per month in zero gravity. We lose about 1% per year on Earth.
• Plasma volume drops 10-20% within the first 90 days in space, but it only drops by 0.5-1.0% per year on Earth.
Despite these changes, astronauts usually recover within a few weeks after returning to Earth.
