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SCIScienceDaily

Blood tests reveal why astronauts get constipated in space

Constipation is a familiar problem for astronauts, but scientists have not fully understood why spending time in space can disrupt normal digestion.

New research from the University of Copenhagen, conducted in collaboration with NASA, offers a possible explanation. Scientists analyzed blood samples from 52 astronauts who spent months aboard the International Space Station and found signs that the digestive system begins changing relatively soon after astronauts leave Earth.

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SCINASA

Contractor to Civil Servant: NASA Welcomes Kristie Foster

Kristie Foster paved her road to becoming a NASA civil servant with literal miles of dedication. Her work at the agency’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, supports NASA’s mission to return American astronauts to the Moon, build a Moon Base for an enduring presence on the lunar surface, and ensure American leadership in space. Foster’s move from a long-time contractor to a civil servant secures critical institutional knowledge after being hired in June under the agency’s workforce directive to restore core competencies.