Mathias Maurer at launch.
My name is Matthias Maurer and I was in Baikonur to help with Tim’s launch as official crew and family support. On the way back to Europe I read in my German news magazine an interesting article about the oldest living person in the UK, Gladys Hooper from the Isle of Wight, now aged 112 years. As I discovered she and my friend Tim, now flying in space, have quite something in common:
The Channel including the Isle of Wight seen from space by Tim Peake. Credits: ESA/NASA
According to the article Gladys Hooper just got a new hip-joint implant after suffering a fracture of her hip joint. I was extremely impressed by this fact since such a surgery at that age poses quite some risks. But her alternative was not a good one: it would have meant she remain in bed for the rest of her life.
A hip joint fracture is common with older people who suffer from osteoporosis, which means weakened bones. Astronauts in space also suffer from osteoporosis, since floating in space makes astronauts bones dissolve away. Astronauts suffer from osteoporosis in space much faster than on earth! Medical doctors on Earth learn a lot from monitoring astronauts on how this disease develops and how to treat it. The best prevention is to remain active: Tim does alot of sport in space, to maintain strong bones and muscles.
The new hip joint implant for Mrs Hooper was probably made of a high-strength metal. Such metallic implants are in continuous research to always improve the materials and thus the quality of life for the patient. Tim will perform many experiments while in space and some of these are related to finding better and stronger metals. What a nice example to underline the importance of human spaceflight for the benefit of people on Earth, I thought! I wish all the best to Gladys Hooper and a successful mission to Tim!”
Launch support for Tim Peake
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