Increasing the speed of a spacecraft affects how pulse rates are perceived by astronauts and Earth observers due to the principles of relativity. While the astronaut perceives her own pulse rate as unchanged, an Earth observer would measure it as slower due to time dilation effects. The formula t = t0/(sqrt(1-v^2/c^2)) illustrates that as the spacecraft's speed approaches the speed of light, the time interval observed from Earth increases. This means the astronaut's heart rate remains constant from her perspective, but appears to decrease from the perspective of the Earth observer. Ultimately, the astronaut experiences her pulse normally, while the Earth observer sees it as slower.