New research finds that heart tissues aboard the space station beat about half as strong as on Earth.
When considering human settlements on the Moon, Mars and further afield, much attention is given to the travel times, food and radiation risk.
Here's a front row seat on what it would be like to return to Earth inside a space capsule.
Just one gram of antimatter could generate an explosion equivalent to a nuclear bomb. It's that kind of energy, some say, that could boldly take us where no one has gone before at record speed.
Not all plants are created equal, and not all can survive the harsh conditions of space. One that might thrive on long spacefaring voyages also happens to be the smallest flowering plant on Earth. It is called Watermeal.
Space propulsion company Pulsar Fusion has started construction on what it claims is the largest practical nuclear fusion rocket engine ever built.
Overall, astronauts remain in excellent mental and physical health relative even after their return from long-term missions. And yet some develop cardiovascular deconditioning, vision problems and ovary problems (women).
To solve the many human-related limitations of space travel, SpaceWorks Enterprises is looking into selectively hibernating the crew during extended trips.
After over a decade in development, Virgin Galactic, a private space travel service founded by billionaire Richard Branson, is nearly ready to enter orbit.
NASA hopes to launch a crewed mission to Mars by the 2030s.
