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Cosmonauts' Growth Contained On Space Missions

Posted on: Tuesday, 20 April 2004, 06:00 CDT

MOSCOW. April 19 (Interfax) - On the average space mission, cosmonauts grow approximately five centimeters.

"The height of cosmonauts grows up to five centimeters in zero gravity in the first three or four days of the space mission. There is no gravity in space, and the cosmonauts' spinal column extends," Zhanna Yarmanova, from the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told Interfax on Monday.

However, their height goes back to norm before they return to Earth with the help of special exercises, Yarmanova said.

"This is necessary for cosmonauts to fit into their Soyuz spacecraft seats and land safely," she said.

"Cosmonauts are using a special suit, the Penguin, to limit their growth in space," Yarmanova said. "The suit presses on the human locomotor system with the help of shock-absorbers. Training on a running track also helps to contain the growth of cosmonauts," she said.

If that is not done, the cosmonaut will be unable to sit in the Soyuz properly and may be severely injured in landing, Yarmanova said.

Alexander Kaleri and Michael Foale, who have spent about six months in orbit, started preparing for landing on April 30, she said.

The ninth crew of the International Space Station (ISS), Gennady Padalka and Michael Fincke, flew to the ISS early on Monday. Kaleri, Foale and visiting European Space Agency astronaut Andre Kuipers will return to the Earth.

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