Much of the U.S. and international space program in the early years looked at the biomedical consequences of space travel on the human body. Bone loss, muscular atrophy and the impact on the cardiovascular system were of special concern as astronauts came and went from outer space. Then researchers began to make connections between the impact of extreme conditions and natural aging here on Earth. Producer Judith Kampfner talks with John Glenn, who orbited the Earth as a septuagenarian to help focus attention on osteoporosis problems of the aging. She visits Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard in Boston, NIH in Washington, DC and the Applied Physics Lab at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore to hear from scientists, doctors and astronauts on health care solutions that can work both on the ground and outside the Earth’s atmosphere.

The Soundprint documentary series features the best work of top radio producers. The award winning documentaries are renowned for drawing the listener into the story with compelling interviews, authentic voices and rich sound. From memoirs to science, health and popular culture, Soundprint creates a powerful experience the listener will not soon forget. "Space Aging" is part of a Soundprint special series called Exploring Space Science, produced in collaboration with WABE-FM and the Morehouse School of Medicine. The series was supported in part by the National Science Foundation. Here are some other documentaries in the series:

“The Enigma Force” Produced by: Judith Kampfner

“The Forecasters of Farming” Produced by: Judith Kampfner

“Getting Your Bearings” Produced by: Judith Kampfner

“Health Over the Horizon” Produced by: Judith Kampfner

“The Human Clock” Produced by: Judith Kampfner

“The Long Distance Patient” Produced by: Judith Kampfner

Soundprint Executive Producer: Moira Rankin

Technical Director: Anna Maria de Freitas

Associate Producer: Gemma Hooley

Audio Engineer: Stephen Moore

Production Assistant: Melissa Sumpter