By Alex Arthur
Think of the human race in space and what springs to mind? The moon landings? Conspiracy theories surrounding our presence on the moon? Neil Armstrong - one small step for man, one giant step for mankind? Tim Peake and the impact his year on the space station had for science in UK schools? The space race of the Cold War era (let’s not get started on the masculinised nature of war and power extending into space)?
At a glance, space is however, much more diverse than you would first think. Currently hurtling in orbit above us is Anne Mclain of Expedition 58 on board the International Space Station. Following on from her undergraduate in Mechanical/Aeronautical Engineering she also has two postgraduate degrees, in Aerospace Engineering and International Relations respectively as well as impressive military plaudits. Commencing her six-month mission in December 2018, flight engineer Mclain makes up a third of an international team, soon to be joined in March by a new team containing Christina Hammock Koch and two male colleagues.
As space moves into a new phase of commercialisation, with future missions diversifying and pushing the boundaries of space travel, it becomes intriguing and possibly more relevant to think about what life in space is actually like. And with such a long history of women in space, and this only set to continue, what is life like up there? With feminism on Earth exposing the different experiences of women, on all levels from international politics, to the public arena, to the private sphere - how do these transcend to life in orbit?
Periods are experienced by a whole range of people, including astronauts. Logistically, how does this work? Research by NASA’s Space Gynaecologist, Dr Varsha Jain, shows that despite human health in space transforming, slowing and accelerating, the menstrual cycle remains unaffected. You might have heard of Sally Ride being asked if 100 tampons would be apt for her seven day space trip, ironic that this definitely is not the rocket science yet it is the most difficult aspect to grasp. Narratively, the idea of menstruation in space ties into long running stereotypes and biases about the temperament of women. Crossing the final frontier into space, much like equal pay, is a perplexity too far for some to understand. Removing the mystery from this concept of period in space removes yet another illogical barrier. Just like how girls in labs are not hormonal, emotional wrecks (whatever that would entail exactly, who knows), neither are astronauts in their professional workplace.
So no, your blood will not flow back into your body nor would you endanger an entire human race through your PMS. The solution is simple, the international space station has adjusted to include more fertile waste bins and like many on earth, astronauts simply chose to postpone their cycles with contraceptives or other medication.
Make your voice heard, but make your science heard too.