Comment by ninkendo

4 days ago

This is what I keep thinking.

- Theres a 38 year old woman in the crew

- It’s a medical condition that likely wasn’t present when the mission started 4 months ago

- It’s serious enough to return the crew, but not serious enough that they must do so immediately

I guess we’ll find out in 9 months? (Or not…)

9 comments

ninkendo

Reply
roryirvine  4 days ago

As I understand it, the studies done with mice suggest that microgravity prevents normal embryo development. The ISS should therefore be regarded as a teratogenic environment, and I'd be shocked if women of childbearing age weren't prescribed highly-effective contraceptives (ie. IUD/IUS or implant) before, during, and after spaceflight.

  • ninkendo  4 days ago

    I’m sure they were prescribed, but it’s always possible for them to fail.

    I’m curious at what point in the embryo’s development the zero-g becomes an issue, if its immediate vs long term thing. It’s very possible that if it was pregnancy, the embryo is already not viable but she still needs some procedures to ensure her own health (a DnC, etc) that are important but not enough for an emergency evac.

Rastonbury  2 days ago

There are probably a hundred ailments or illnesses that can fit this description, maybe someone noticed a swollen lymph node or lump somewhere

  • ninkendo  2 days ago

    Yeah it’s definitely just a thought. Getting pregnant in space the sort of sordid thing that’s fun to speculate on, but ultimately we just don’t have enough information. We’ll probably never know, either.