Scientists have found a new risk space travel. They have discovered that our DNA can change when going space. DNA mutations could increase the risk space travellers getting cancer. The scientists did research 14 NASA astronauts who took part the Space Shuttle programme between 1998 and 2001. The astronauts provided blood samples ten days before they went space and three days after returning Earth. The blood has been frozen the past 20 years. Professor David Goukassian said: "Astronauts work an extreme environment where many factors can result ...mutations." He added: "Space radiation...means there is a risk that...mutations could develop."
Professor Goukassian said his study could be important the future of space travel. particular, several nations are working sending astronauts to Mars. Other countries are preparing to build bases the moon. There is also a race commercial companies to start the business space tourism. Goukassian said there were possible health risks to space travel and to exploring deep space. He said more research was needed to study the harmful effects space travel the body. This could be important for NASA's Artemis project. This aims to send people back to the moon the first time in 50 years. The last time humans went to the moon was the Apollo 17 mission in December 1972.
