Exercise and echocardiograms helped keep astronauts’ hearts stable during six-month spaceflight, study finds

A team of international researchers examined 13 astronauts who spent six months aboard the International Space Station. The crew underwent regular onboard echocardiograms to monitor heart size and function throughout the mission.

The scans revealed mild, temporary changes in cardiac structure when the astronauts transitioned from Earth’s gravity to microgravity. Over the six‑month period these changes stabilized, and heart measurements returned to baseline after the crew returned to Earth.

The authors conclude that routine exercise combined with cardiac imaging can protect astronaut heart health on long‑duration flights, offering reassurance as agencies plan future missions to Mars.