Maximum weight for astronaut/space tourist

[Pawelk198604]

I wonder if there is a top limit for those willing to undergo space travel.

For example, I am ashamed to admit but I have nearly 140 kg in weight , not long ago I lost a little but not much.

I know that at the start of the astronaut weighs 3.5 times more than usual, so I wonder if there are any weight limits for astronauts or space tourists.

[Nuke]

you will probibly have to pay extra if you are fat.

[shynung]

Depends on the spacecraft used.

Suppose you're going to space in a 3-man spacecraft. The craft was rated for three men, each weighing 75 kg (for a total payload-to-LEO of 225 kg). In this case, you'd take the payload capacity supposed to carry 2 men; you'd pay double compared to the other person riding with you (assuming he weighs less than 85 kg, which hits the spacecraft's weigh limits).

If, instead, you plan to go to space using a 1-man spacecraft designed around the 75-kg-per-man figure, you're out of luck.

[Nuke]

thing is if you can afford a trip to space, you can afford a gym membership. im sure the chance to go to space would provide the neccisary motivation.

[Pawelk198604]

I wonder what is the average weight, American and Russian astronauts / cosmonauts, the assumption that not everyone of them , that they also men who are really big weigt, not necessary fat, but mucular.

Like American who was used to be in American Football team in his Uni, or Russian one who was hockeist in the past:D

[Red Iron Crown]

I don't think there's been a single astronaut/cosmonaut that was significantly overweight when they went to space. Every extra kilo of body fat represents a kilo of useful supplies or equipment that cannot be brought along. Larger bodies consume more life support resources, too.

If you are interested in becoming an astronaut with a government agency, you pretty much have to be in decent shape.

When space tourism is a thing, that will likely change. Though I would expect heavier people to pay more given the criticality of upper stage mass.

[rtxoff]

you will probibly have to pay extra if you are fat.

Hard but true

I heard that even some airlines already having this practice.

[StuntMax]

Larger bodies consume more life support resources, too.

Not to mention that a severely overweight body must sustain a cardiorespiratory stress which is largely unexplored in microgravity (and a spaceship is no place to experiment new, fascinating forms of cardiac ejection insufficiency) and probaby even in high-G conditions, and may not fit in hatches and passages.

Years ago (i mean 25-30 years ago... crap i'm OOOOLD) I've read somewhere that an Apollo/Gemini astronaut candidate wasn't supposed to be taller than 165 cm... pretty short, even for 1970s standards (50th percentile back then was around 173-175 cm)

[Camacha]

I know that at the start of the astronaut weighs 3.5 times more than usual, so I wonder if there are any weight limits for astronauts or space tourists.

I do not think that the pure weight is going to be the limiting factor, but health is. People who are overweight tend to be unhealthy. Any and everyone going into space is thoroughly checked before liftoff. If there is any doubt about your physical fitness, you will not go, meaning that anyone with any overweight but the smallest bit will probably be grounded. Going to space is an intense experience and being large/unhealthy makes it a lot worse on your body. And do remember that getting sick or even dying also puts other crew members at risk.

Maybe even psychological factors come into play - if people cannot control or take care of themselves on Earth, would you really want to take them to space?

Sorry if I am sounding harsh, I am just trying to be realistic.

[phoenix_ca]

you will probibly have to pay extra if you are fat.

Ooooh, I can see the headlines now. "Stop discriminating against fat people in space flight! Fat people have rights too! Down with the patriarchy!"

thing is if you can afford a trip to space, you can afford a gym membership. im sure the chance to go to space would provide the neccisary motivation.

Actually motivation has little to do with it. If you're...very big, the most you can hope to reasonably do is maintain your fitness level (which is pretty separate from the amount of body fat you store), and manage your weight so that you don't become morbidly obese. Actually getting rid of weight is nigh-on-impossible; most people after losing weight gain it again very fast, sometimes even before they're "done" dieting.

Edited June 11, 2014 by phoenix_ca

[Red Iron Crown]

It's possible to be overweight and healthy, just as it's possible to be very old and healthy. While there is definitely a correlation between being overweight and being unhealthy, they're not inextricably linked.

[phoenix_ca]

Hard but true

I heard that even some airlines already having this practice.

When it comes to airlines, knowing the weight of your aircraft is extremely important; as much as it is with spaceflight. If you are overweight, you might get off the ground for a few moments and then crash past the end of the runway, or lose significant control authority if your mass isn't properly distributed (cargo handlers loading aircraft have to take this into consideration and take great care in placement of cargo). Several crashes have resulted from planes being overweight, or a combination of being at or near max takeoff weight and also having reduced lift caused by icing.

Given the vital importance of weight in aircraft, as well as the extra fuel burn added by more weight, it's fair to have a surcharge on obese people. Morbidly obese people could be reasonably compelled to pay for multiple seats (kinda like Yo-Yo Ma and his cello, except the extra space is for all the fat). Not that any of that will be accepted by passengers with any sort of grace; it's like people think of air travel as a utility, not a privilege (and boy is it ever a privilege of the developed world).

Good news though: There are new and fun ways to keep fit on the horizon.

Edited June 11, 2014 by phoenix_ca

[theend3r]

Your weight in space is 0, so why would you pay more than others who weight the same? Mass on the other hand...

Actually motivation has little to do with it. If you're...very big, the most you can hope to reasonably do is maintain your fitness level (which is pretty separate from the amount of body fat you store), and manage your weight so that you don't become morbidly obese. Actually getting rid of weight is nigh-on-impossible; most people after losing weight gain it again very fast, sometimes even before they're "done" dieting.

False. If you expend as much energy as you absorb, you can't gain weight, it's physically impossible. Dieting itself is not enough, actually it is hardly even important, important is to exersise. I move till I drop and can't walk anymore and I'm not fat even though I eat anything I can find. People even call me acid sometimes because of how much I eat

Edited June 11, 2014 by theend3r

[Duxwing]

Ooooh, I can see the headlines now. "Stop discriminating against fat people in space flight! Fat people have rights too! Down with the patriarchy!"

And we answer with the adage, "Those who eat sweets take up two seats".

Actually motivation has little to do with it. If you're...very big, the most you can hope to reasonably do is maintain your fitness level (which is pretty separate from the amount of body fat you store), and manage your weight so that you don't become morbidly obese. Actually getting rid of weight is nigh-on-impossible; most people after losing weight gain it again very fast, sometimes even before they're "done" dieting.

Only for obese people or for people in general? If the former, then aw man, poor obese people. If the latter, then I disagree because I have thrice lost considerable body fat by diet and exercise.

-Duxwing

[HeadHunter67]

It's possible to be overweight and healthy, just as it's possible to be very old and healthy. While there is definitely a correlation between being overweight and being unhealthy, they're not inextricably linked.

This is a very correct and often overlooked observation. Being overweight, in and of itself, is merely a risk factor - like smoking, excessive drinking, unhealthy diet, or sedentary lifestyle. While these things may increase the risk of a disease or complication, they do not guarantee it.

I work on a cardiac unit at a hospital. I've seen overweight people with a perfect sinus rhythm, and had a gentleman who was fit and in great shape (and looked to be 10 years younger than his actual age) with atrial fibrillation. Genetics and a variety of other factors beyond our control are as significant to risk of disease.

Obviously, reducing one's excess weight reduces the risk - but you might still be the unfortunate soul who eats right, stays fit, and dies anyways (remember health guru Jim Fixx?)

As for cardiac performance in obese people in microgravity, it's entirely possible that it would be better in space than in Earth gravity, as there is not the weight upon the heart and vascular system. But as previously mentioned, the data is not yet there. The only way to find out would be to send fat people into space - so our first overweight space travelers are likely to be experiments.

As for astronaut weight, currently NASA's top limit is 209 pounds (95 kg). And even though muscle weighs more than an equivalent volume of fat, people who are fit still tend to weigh less for their size. Anyone under the maximum height, but over the maximum weight, would either be obese or a body builder - neither is an ideal candidate.

[phoenix_ca]

Even considerable exercise and dieting can result in a rebound when someone stops the diet, even if they continue exercise. Sometimes you're just screwed and your body is happy at a pudgy equilibrium. As noted above by HeadHunter, that doesn't necessarily mean you're unfit. Being sedentary is far worse (and I really should practice what I preach here a bit more...*plans to ride his bicycle later*).

I move till I drop and can't walk anymore and I'm not fat even though I eat anything I can find. People even call me acid sometimes because of how much I eat

You know that that's...not exactly the ideal way to train, right? If I understand you correctly, what you're doing is depleting your glycogen stores pretty much completely. It's extremely stressful on your muscles and other internal organs, to say nothing of the disruption it can cause to the nervous system. It's better to replenish your glycogen and electrolytes as you exercise (eLoad is awesome; screw the testimonials, these guys go into exacting detail as to what it is and why its useful and have the evidence to back it up). Doing so can actually allow you to perform better over a longer period and gives your body a chance to slowly build-up more glycogen storage over time. Hitting the wall is just throwing your whole system into a sort of emergency mode where you might not even have the energy to continue, you know, living. (It's happened to marathoners before, and it's a terrible place to be, physiologically anyway.)

*ahem*

That was quite derailing. Whatever. It's the SCIENCE LABS. FOLLOW THE SCIENCE!!! Or...something.

[Nuke]

i am kinda chubby, but if you gave me a ticket to space and the condition that i had to get down to a healthy weight, i would make every effort to do so. id give up soft drinks, start jogging and i would start eating the food that food eats. motivation is a key factor in loosing weight. ive done it before and i could do it again. then again i might be over the height limit too, so that is also an issue.

fat people evolved in climates where food was not readily available year round, so they evolved a way to store energy. so while they may not be a good choice for space missions, they might be very useful to have when bootstrapping off world colonies. they could survive long periods on tiny rations where a skinny person with a high metabolism would just whither away and die. so if your first space crops fail or you need to wait for a resupply mission, you can survive it.

Edited June 11, 2014 by Nuke

[Red Iron Crown]

fat people evolved in climates where food was not readily available year round, so they evolved a way to store energy.

I don't think obesity is an evolved thing for some people over others, every person has the ability to store excess calories consumed as fat. Obesity is nearly always due to lifestyle choices.

[Nuke]

its the capacity for energy storage that evolved, not the obesity. you take those people out of their natural habitat of failed crops and poor hunts, and put them in a world where food can be had year round in large quantities, and they get big. its the healthier branch of that subset you want setting up a colony on mars.

Edited June 11, 2014 by Nuke

[Red Iron Crown]

"Those people"? It's all of us.

[Nuke]

i dont think so. an equatorial hunter gather might not need to store energy as readily as an inuit for example. human genetics is diverse.

[Red Iron Crown]

Not that diverse, as near as I can tell. There are fat people of every genetic makeup. There are some cultures where it's more prevalent than others, but I think you'd have a hard time singling out genetics as the cause of that.

[Pawelk198604]

Hard but true

I heard that even some airlines already having this practice.

This is outrageous, how can you ask a passenger with something. It's not discrete specificity to ask a woman about her weight.

Probably if the airline employee asked about something like this Polish woman was slapped by that such a woman, even if she got on with it in the famous no-fly list:D

[phoenix_ca]

i would start eating the food that food eats.

Bahahahaha! That was some awesome wording. I assume that "food" = "meat" to you then? Yes, plants are good for you. Especially the cellulose (aka fibre). It makes your...uh...bathroom time more...uh...efficient.

Sorry to say though, Red Iron Crown has a point. If you do any survival training, you'll learn that the best place to store excess energy is often in your body. Got food that might spoil? Eat it before it does. Your body will store as much as it can. Gorging when you have the food available is a very viable strategy, but you won't be able to sustain really hard exertion for nearly as long as someone who can load-up on thousands of calories before a marathon can. Eat all the things, then take it slow and steady. Same goes for water. Best place to store it is inside you.

Come to think of it...the human body is remarkable. To think of all the processes going on just to keep oneself alive, and practically all of it in the background, without any conscious thought...quite awesome. Evolution is awesome.

(Oh, and plants eat sunlight and nitrates. ... I wouldn't suggest trying to eat either. One will give you sunburn and the other would be distinctly unpleasant.)

Edited June 11, 2014 by phoenix_ca

[HeadHunter67]

if you gave me a ticket to space and the condition that i had to get down to a healthy weight, i would make every effort to do so. id give up soft drinks, start jogging and i would start eating the food that food eats. motivation is a key factor in loosing weight.

So, the only thing that's keeping you from getting fit is that you haven't already been selected as an astronaut candidate?