90-plus

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Financial Intelligence • Markets • World News • Independent Analysis
Published: 2026-10-01 • Permanent link

Chaos erupted in the financial markets yesterday as investors scrambled to respond to the latest data on hip fractures among astronauts. A study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings revealed that the rate of hip fractures among astronauts after spaceflights lasting more than 90 days was significantly higher than after shorter spaceflights or among people who were not astronauts. Specifically, the researchers found that 41% of astronauts who spent 91-120 days in space experienced a hip fracture, compared to just 16% of those who spent less than 90 days in space.

As the implications of this study sink in, investors are bracing for a potential downturn in the space tourism industry. With companies like Virgin Galactic and SpaceX planning to launch commercial spaceflights in the near future, the risk of hip fractures and other space-related injuries is becoming a major concern. This could lead to increased liability costs for space travel companies, which could in turn drive up ticket prices and reduce demand for space tourism.

The findings of this study are not entirely surprising, given the unique physical stresses that astronauts face in space. Prolonged exposure to microgravity, radiation, and extreme temperatures can all take a toll on the human body, particularly the joints. In fact, NASA has already begun to implement measures to mitigate the risk of hip fractures among astronauts, including the use of specialized exercise equipment and ergonomic spacesuits.

As the space industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how companies respond to the risk of hip fractures and other space-related injuries. In the short term, investors may want to keep a close eye on the financials of space travel companies, as well as the regulatory environment in which they operate. In the longer term, the development of new technologies and strategies to mitigate the risks of space travel could lead to a more sustainable and accessible space tourism industry.