Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore have safely returned to Earth after a nine-month stay on the International Space Station. They returned aboard SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, which splashed down off the coast of Florida. This successful return marks the end of a long mission and the beginning of their readjustment to life on Earth.
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03-19, 2025Both Williams and Wilmore are highly experienced astronauts, no strangers to the rigors of space travel. However, spending 270 days in orbit means the low-gravity environment of space would undoubtedly have taken a toll on their bodies. Upon their return, they will be transported to the astronaut quarters at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston for several days of health checks, a routine procedure for returning astronauts. Subsequently, flight surgeons will clear them to return home and reunite with their families.
British astronaut Tim Peake stated that while we saw Williams and Wilmore smiling and waving after exiting the spacecraft, they are likely feeling "pretty grotty." He explained that astronauts may experience symptoms such as "nausea," "dizziness," and "vertigo," and that their bones and muscles need to adapt to the load of Earth's gravity, while their sense of balance also needs to be re-established, requiring a period of rapid adjustment. This adjustment period is crucial for their long-term health and well-being.
Peake estimates that it may take astronauts two to three months to return to "full fitness." They need to strengthen the small stabilizing muscles in their lower back and core, which cannot be adequately exercised in space. Frank Rubio, who previously spent 371 days in space, said that his first two to three months back on Earth were primarily spent "reintegrating" into life and "recovering" physically. The recovery process is tailored to each astronaut's individual needs and physical condition.
Astronauts experience changes in their bones, muscles, and vision while in space. Due to the lack of gravity, astronauts rapidly lose bone and muscle mass. NASA research shows that weight-bearing bones lose an average of 1% to 1.5% of mineral density per month in space. Additionally, microgravity can cause fluids to shift upwards, affecting vision, and some astronauts may require corrective lenses. While astronauts perform extensive exercises on the International Space Station to combat muscle loss, a study indicates that this is not enough to completely prevent muscle loss. These physiological changes highlight the challenges of long-duration spaceflight.
