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Microgravity allows spinal discs to expand without gravitational weight. The figure is taken from NASA Science, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.

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Yes. It sits on the Space shelf, one of 1,090 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.

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The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.

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Astronauts grow up to five centimetres taller while living in space

Microgravity allows spinal discs to expand without gravitational weight

Without the continuous downward compression of Earth's gravity, the fluid-filled cartilage discs between vertebrae expand. As a result, astronauts living aboard the International Space Station can temporarily grow up to three percent taller, roughly two to five centimetres, before returning to Earth's gravity.

Where this comes from

NASA Science

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Tags: astronauts, microgravity, spine

Astronauts grow up to five centimetres taller while living in space: the short answers

Where does this come from, and can I check it?: Microgravity allows spinal discs to expand without gravitational weight. The figure is taken from NASA Science, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.
Is this really a space fact?: Yes. It sits on the Space shelf, one of 1,090 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.
What else can I read about it?: The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.