What Drugs Do Astronauts Take? 132
astroengine writes "Science fiction is stuffed full of examples of pill-popping space explorers and aliens enjoying psychedelic highs. After all, space is big; it can get boring/scary/crazy up there. It's little wonder, then, that our current space explorers consume a cocktail of uppers, downers, tranquilizers and alcohol to get the job done. Robert Lamb on tranquilizers in the space station: 'Sure, it hardly makes for a civilized evening aboard ISS, but it beats someone blowing the hatch because they think they saw something crawling on one of the solar panels.'"
Re:ah duct tape.... (Score:3, Informative)
That ever useful tool. However would we have gone to the stars without it?
Yes, according to a 2007 report from the Associated Press, astronauts keep a few tranqs on hand in case anyone goes all suicidal or psychotic in space. NASA recommends binding the individual's wrists and ankles with duct tape (ever the space traveler's friend!), strapping them down with a bungee cord and, if necessary, sticking them with a tranquilizer.
Has any sci-fi show other than Firefly ever mentioned duct tape?
Dunno but I just watched a Mythbusters episode where Adam and Jamie built a sailing boat almost entirely out of the stuff and sailed it on SF Harbour.
Subduing a crazy crewmember in a Gemini or an Apollo LM would certainly have been ...interesting.
Re:You ever... (Score:1, Informative)
Hey mon, I see babylon.
They use marijuana syringes. (Score:2, Informative)
I know this 'coz once, my grandfather, who built space ships with us in our sofa when we were kids, found a marijuana syringe on the moon.
One drug is certain (Score:4, Informative)
Antiemetics (that is, anti-throw-up / anti-motion-sickness)
Not having gravity to "set things straight" can mess things up royally (in several ways)
Re:ah duct tape.... (Score:5, Informative)
If it is supposed to move but doesn't... use WD40.
Re:Lies, Damn Lies and "Science" Articles (Score:4, Informative)
Stimulants or similar drugs; all the good ones are controlled substances. Specifically, the linked Discovery News article says the astronauts take modafinil [wikipedia.org], which is approved in the US for those with sleep disorders but useful for many other conditions as well. Modafinil can be used in many situations where ampetamine/methylphenidate and friends could be used instead, and typically with less side effects. Also, the Discovery News article mentions dexedrine [wikipedia.org]. Any of these drugs are likely to improve mental performance when used properly; although I must say it's unfair that astronauts get to use modafinil off-label when people know it can be effective for other conditions [law360.com].
Caffeine is rather weak compared to these (scheduled) drugs, and has side effects of its own. Energy drinks might just create more problems - I've only used them a few times - and most of the time I felt worse afterwards. If I need to consume caffeine, I stick with pills (around a hundred times cheaper than energy drinks!) or coffee.
When taken at the doses needed to be effective, caffeine has more side effects than any of the scheduled substances I've used. (I've been addicted to caffeine since high school.) Of course, caffeine is usually consumed in the form of beverages or cheap pills, not expensive pills with gradual release mechanisms that reduce the effects of a large initial dose and sharp drop-off.
Re:ah duct tape.... (Score:2, Informative)
Ripley duct taped a flamethrower to an assault rifle in Aliens.
Re:ah duct tape.... (Score:3, Informative)
WD-40 is good stuff but for really stuck/rusty machinery, Zepreserve is better. No connection to Zep, Inc., I just work at a place that harvests and processes salt and so have to deal with a whole lot of rusty machinery.
Re:ah duct tape.... (Score:5, Informative)
If it is supposed to move but doesn't... use WD40.
[pedant]
WD40 is actually terrible for this job. It was originally invented to be sprayed on metal parts to prevent them from rusting, and it works well for that. It's not a good lubricant though nor does it penetrate corrosion very well. On moving parts it attracts and holds in dirt and "dries out" within a relatively short period, leaving the part binding/squeaking worse than before. For a rust penetrant, use something like PB Blaster or Sea Foam. For a lubricant, use oil or something designed specifically for that purpose.
[/pedant]
He did it shortly after landing... (Score:4, Informative)
, but he and NASA kept it quiet to prevent a repeat of the Apollo 8 controversy, where NASA was sued by an atheist group over the reading of Genesis from lunar orbit on Xmas eve, 1968.
Re:Lies, Damn Lies and "Science" Articles (Score:1, Informative)
The CIA has tried all sorts of drugs in the hope of finding a truth serum. And there are all sorts of medications that can fuck you up in many ways that you can get over the counter. Scopolamine can do it's job just fine providing you stay within the right dosage. If you take too much it can have other effects (like most drugs). The reason it's still OTC is because those effects are generally considered to be unpleasant and therefore abuse is low (you think it's about safety?). The only drug the article said was mixed with Scopolamine is Dexedrine -- nothing strange or job-preventing about that combo at the right dosage and the article doesn't imply otherwise.
If you're going to ramble on about a crap article on Slashdot, at least get your facts straight.