. ▁ ▁Rad iation ▁ ▁Once ▁above ▁the ▁atmosphere , ▁radiation ▁due ▁to ▁the ▁Van ▁Allen ▁bel ts , ▁solar ▁radiation ▁and ▁cos mic ▁radiation ▁issues ▁occur ▁and ▁increase . ▁Further ▁away ▁from ▁the ▁Earth , ▁solar ▁fl ares ▁can ▁give ▁a ▁fatal ▁radiation ▁do se ▁in ▁minutes , ▁and ▁the ▁health ▁threat ▁from ▁cos mic ▁radiation ▁significantly ▁increases ▁the ▁ch ances ▁of ▁cancer ▁over ▁a ▁de cade ▁expos ure ▁or ▁more . ▁ ▁Life ▁support ▁▁ ▁In ▁human ▁space fl ight , ▁the ▁life ▁support ▁system ▁is ▁a ▁group ▁of ▁devices ▁that ▁allow ▁a ▁human ▁being ▁to ▁surv ive ▁in ▁outer ▁space . ▁NASA ▁often ▁uses ▁the ▁phrase ▁Environment al ▁Control ▁and ▁Life ▁Support ▁System ▁or ▁the ▁ac ron ym ▁E CL SS ▁when ▁describing ▁these ▁systems ▁for ▁its ▁human ▁space fl ight ▁miss ions . ▁The ▁life ▁support ▁system ▁may ▁supply : ▁air , ▁water ▁and ▁food . ▁It ▁must ▁also ▁maintain ▁the ▁correct ▁body ▁temperature , ▁an ▁acceptable ▁pressure ▁on ▁the ▁body ▁and ▁deal ▁with ▁the ▁body ' s ▁waste ▁products . ▁Sh ield ing ▁against ▁harm ful ▁external ▁influ ences ▁such ▁as ▁radiation ▁and ▁micro - met eor ites ▁may ▁also ▁be ▁necessary . ▁Com ponents ▁of ▁the ▁life ▁support ▁system ▁are ▁life - crit ical , ▁and ▁are ▁designed ▁and ▁constructed ▁using ▁safety ▁engineering ▁techniques . ▁ ▁Space ▁weather ▁▁ ▁Space ▁weather ▁is ▁the ▁concept ▁of ▁changing ▁environmental ▁conditions ▁in ▁outer ▁space . ▁It ▁is ▁distinct ▁from ▁the ▁concept ▁of ▁weather ▁within ▁a ▁planet ary ▁atmosphere , ▁and