Apollo Lunar Astronauts At Greater Risk Of Getting Heart Diseases, New Study Says

Unlike other astronauts, Apollo lunar astronauts are the only ones who have travelled to deep space beyond Earth's protective magnetic shielding. NASA'a Apollo program made a total of 11 space flights between 1968 and 1972, six of them landed on the moon carrying Neil Armstrong, Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin and ten other astronauts who walked on the surface of the moon, reported Space.com.

According to the study conducted by researchers from Florida State University, the risk of getting a heart diseases was almost five times greater in Apollo lunar astronauts as compared to non-flight astronauts, or astronauts who never flew missions in space. The study found that the heart risk among Apollo astronauts is four times higher than in astronauts who flew only in low Earth orbit (LEO). In fact, researchers found similar results when they tested mice exposed to similar radiation.

The study compared the cause of death among three categories of astronauts. Included in the study were 35 astronauts who never made it to the space, 35 who only flew in low-Earth orbit and seven who had landed on the moon. It is to be noted that lunar astronaut Edgar Mitchell, who died back in February, wasn't included in the study.

It was found that of the seven lunar astronauts, three died from cardiovascular diseases including Ron Evans, James Irwin and Neil Armstrong, reported NBCNews. The researchers believe that exposure to radiation in deep-space may be responsible for the increased heart problems in the Apollo astronauts.

Dr. Michael Delp, lead author of the study from Florida State University, said that the 24 Apollo astronauts who went to the moon are the only astronauts who got exposed to deep-space radiation as   all the others have stayed in low-Earth orbit. He added that more research into the matter is needed. Research findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.