Astronauts Are Sky-High—Figuratively

Space is full of unique challenges, and astronauts use contemporary pharmacology to meet them. Discovery News compiles a list of the drugs our ambassadors to space could be on right now:

• Modafinil. A strong stimulant taken by astronauts when the mission calls for unnaturally long periods of wakefulness.
• Scopolamine. Crew members suffering from zero-gravity nausea turn to ScopeDex, a mixture of scopolamine and the stimulant dexedrine. In large doses, scopolamine is a full-on mind-control hallucinogen.

• Zolendronate. This drug—normally given to cancer patients—prevents bone loss, a risk for astronauts in zero gravity.
• Anti-moon dust pills. These don't exist—yet. Dust tracked into a lunar base or ship from a moonwalk could be lethal, so scientists are devising drugs to combat the effects.
• Tranquilizers. Any sci-fi fan should know it's not uncommon to become psychotic or suicidal in space, so most mission kits include a few tranquilizers in case a colleague becomes a risk.