It may not be shocking to learn that the NASA astronauts who were “stuck” in orbit have a slightly different appearance after a demanding nine months in space.
After being’stranded’ on the ISS since June of last year, NASA astronauts Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore and Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams were returned to Earth on Tuesday, March 18, aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
After their splash landing off the Gulf Coast, close to Tallahassee, Florida, we witnessed the team being hauled away on stretchers before they could even take a single foot on land, demonstrating NASA’s obvious awareness that being away from home for so long is likely to have a negative impact on their health.
In addition to actually breathing oxygen from the air, Wilmore and Williams are experiencing gravity against their bones for the first time in nine months, which in and of itself raises a number of possible health concerns.
Astronauts Wilmore and Williams face health issues post-spaceflight, including “chicken legs,” “baby feet,” and an increased cancer risk, per the Daily Mail. At NASA’s Johnson Space Center, medical tests reveal concerns like weight loss and optical nerve strain, potentially causing brain fluid buildup and blurred vision (SANS). Extended space missions may lead to cognitive decline, stress, and microgravity-related muscle atrophy, affecting their ability to walk upon return. Despite strict exercise and diets aboard the ISS, their frail appearance suggests muscle loss. NASA warns some effects could be permanent, making long-duration missions increasingly challenging for astronauts’ long-term health.
Thankfully, according to NASA, most astronauts recover to their pre-mission fitness levels in 45 days, however in extreme circumstances, recovery may take months or even a year.
