Last week I learned something new: astronauts in space don’t burp. On earth, gases in our stomachs rise above heavier liquids and solids because of gravity. The gas puts pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter, which opens to release a belch. In a zero-G environment, stomach contents don’t separate. So, even though astronauts in space may feel the need to release a burp, the result won’t be a relatively harmless gas. It will be a vurp – the messy cross between a burp and a vomit. At the very least, the esophageal reflux has got to be brutal. I’m guessing to deal with this, astronauts’ diets are low in beans, dairy products, onions, garlic, cruciferous vegetables and other foods that make intestinal gas worse. January 15, a crew of 4 left ISS early; the first medical evacuation from the space station. We weren’t told which astronaut needed medical care, or why. But maybe it was gastro-intestinal distress.
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