space sickness: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low / SpecializedTechnical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “space sickness” mean?
A medical condition, similar to motion sickness, experienced by astronauts during spaceflight due to weightlessness, affecting balance and spatial orientation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A medical condition, similar to motion sickness, experienced by astronauts during spaceflight due to weightlessness, affecting balance and spatial orientation.
Can refer to any form of nausea or disorientation caused by microgravity or simulated zero-gravity environments.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage. The term is equally used in both scientific communities.
Connotations
Technical, specific to space travel.
Frequency
Low frequency overall; slightly more frequent in American English due to NASA's prominence in space exploration.
Grammar
How to Use “space sickness” in a Sentence
SUBJECT experiences/suffers from/combats space sicknessSPACE SICKNESS affects/overcomes SUBJECTVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “space sickness” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The astronaut's space sickness was fortunately short-lived.
- Researchers are studying new treatments for space sickness.
American English
- Space sickness is a major concern for long-duration missions.
- He took medication to mitigate the effects of space sickness.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in discussions about commercial spaceflight passenger health.
Academic
Common in aerospace medicine, physiology, and astronautics papers.
Everyday
Very rare. Used in news articles about astronauts.
Technical
Standard term in space mission planning and astronaut health protocols.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “space sickness”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “space sickness”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “space sickness”
- Confusing with 'motion sickness'. Using for general travel sickness on Earth. Misspelling as 'spacesickness' (should be two words).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While symptoms are similar (nausea, dizziness), the cause is different. Motion sickness is caused by conflicting sensory signals during *movement* on Earth. Space sickness is caused by the *absence* of gravity (microgravity), disrupting the vestibular system's normal function.
For most astronauts, symptoms peak in the first 48-72 hours in space and then gradually diminish as the body adapts, a process known as space adaptation.
It cannot be fully prevented for everyone, but its impact can be reduced. Strategies include pre-flight training, specific head-movement restrictions in early flight, and anti-nausea medications.
No. Estimates suggest around 60-80% of astronauts experience some degree of space sickness. Susceptibility varies greatly between individuals.
A medical condition, similar to motion sickness, experienced by astronauts during spaceflight due to weightlessness, affecting balance and spatial orientation.
Space sickness is usually technical / scientific in register.
Space sickness: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspeɪs ˌsɪknəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspeɪs ˌsɪknəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “['hit by the space wobbles'] (informal, astronaut slang)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an astronaut floating in a SPACE capsule, feeling SICK. SPACE + SICKness.
Conceptual Metaphor
A MALADY OF THE VOID; THE BODY'S REBELLION AGAINST WEIGHTLESSNESS.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary cause of space sickness?