Astronauts hibernating in space may become possible, says scientist

Since time immemorial, humans have often wished they could curl up and sleep away those cold winter days like their furry friends, but that dream could one day become a reality with scientists investigating new ways for astronauts to hibernate in space.

This would mean a cut in food and water needed on the spacecraft, a reduction in waste and fewer psychological problems with the astronauts.

Leopold Summerer, head of the advanced concepts team at the European Space Agency, said research was being done that could put “some science fiction into the realm of science reality” in our lifetimes.

Scientists are studying the animal kingdom to unlock the secrets of hibernation and are now studying whether astronauts can be kept in sleep-like state for days or weeks by dropping their body temperatures.

Agencies/Canadajournal