Travel to Mars: How Long-Distance Space Journeys Will Impact Astronauts (VIDEO)

First Posted: Oct 01, 2015 09:25 AM EDT

Preparing for long-distance space travel is going to be difficult for the human body. After being in space for six months, it's difficult to walk an obstacle course on Earth. Now, researchers are taking a closer look at the impacts of low gravity on the human body.

In this latest study, the researchers examined the balance control disturbances caused by gravity transitions. The scientists evaluated tests subjects who have undergone body unloading, or not carrying one's own weight, after returning from space shuttle missions, space station expeditions or from bed rest studies of up to 70 days.

In order to test just how much body unloading affects balance and stability, the researchers developed the Functional Task Test (FTT), which identifies mission critical tasks that may impact astronauts' movement and performance immediately after gravity transitions.

"These tests are very operation-oriented and are related to different aspects of the mission and activities an astronaut would need to do after landing on the surface of Mars," said Jacob Bloomberg, one of the researchers, in a news release.

With balance control impairment comes hand-eye coordination problems. There's also the loss of postural stability or steadiness, and vision and perception issues. Motion sickness can also be a problem. After landing, these impairments can make it difficult for crew members to begin necessary operations, such as walking from their landing craft to their habitat.

Readapting to gravity after many months of space travel and being weightless isn't easy for astronauts. By using the preflight and inflight training tools in development by Bloomberg and his team, crew members on a mission to Mars may transition back to gravity smoothly and land their spacecraft safely on the surface. Currently, NASA is attempting to unlock the key to balance training so that astronauts can land on Mars and stand and walk through their obstacle course with greater ease.