posted 10-22-2010 05:16 PM               

As summarized by Chicago-based columnist Cecil Adams in a piece about menstruation in zero-G:

(1) Menstruation rids the body of iron. That's a good thing, because space flight can reduce one's production of a protein that normally sops up excess iron, and "increased free iron can be extremely toxic."

(2) Women produce a lot more estrogen than men, and they also have lower epinephrine levels. For reasons we needn't get into, these factors reduce the likelihood of heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems while in space.

(3) Some of the Apollo 15 astronauts experienced pain and swelling of their fingertips while on the surface of the moon. Rowe hypothesizes that this is less likely to happen to women because "estrogen reduces vascular smooth muscle tone."

It might also be pointed out that women on average take up less room in cramped spacecraft cabins, consume fewer resources, and are more inclined to ask for directions when lost. [...]