On Tuesday, March 18, stranded astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams were finally returned to Earth after an amazing nine months in orbit.
The two were meant to finish their mission and return to Earth after just eight days after first arriving at the International Space Station (ISS) in June 2024.
However, a series of issues compelled those plans to be modified. Williams and Wilmore have spent a total of nine months stranded on the ISS.
Before they could set foot on the ground, the two were taken away on stretchers after being rescued and sent back to their home planet aboard the Space X Dragon spaceship.
It goes without saying that returning from such a lengthy space mission requires acclimating to a number of things on Earth, and Wilmore and Williams may experience negative health effects.
According to the Daily Mail, in addition to breathing real oxygen from the atmosphere, the astronauts are feeling gravity against their bones for the first time in nine months. They will also have to deal with ailments like “baby feet” and “chicken legs,” as well as a higher chance of developing cancer.
Naturally, a variety of testing will be conducted at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston during their first welcome home time. However, some specialists have expressed concern about warning indicators that could indicate health problems.
It should come as no surprise that Wilmore and Williams experienced a noticeable bodily change before returning to Earth, considering the length of their unforeseen stay on the ISS. Observers noted, among other things, that the couple appeared thin, as if they had shed a significant amount of weight in the previous nine months.
Although such is to be expected, if we are to follow the advice of the experts, we need also take into account other, possibly more alarming health risks.
For instance, some have discussed how Wilmore and Williams’ eyes and optical nerves are under strain, causing fluid to accumulate in their heads. Their appearance may be impacted by Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS).
After returning to Earth, most astronauts’ eyes return to normal, but NASA warns that some SANS adverse effects may be irreversible. Unfortunately, this can depend on the length of time an astronaut has been in space. Given how lengthy Wilmore and Williams’ stay was, this could be bad news for them.
In addition, one must take into account microgravity. Astronauts struggle to maintain a healthy weight since their muscles atrophy over time due to the absence of Earth’s gravity, which also affects their looks. This was also the reason they splashed down and were carried on stretchers away from their ship.
Spaceflight Venous Thrombosis (SVT) is the last condition. It causes an upward fluid shift and can make an astronaut’s face appear “puffy.”
When Wilmore and Williams eventually made their way back to Earth this week, how did you feel about their appearances? Tell us in the comments section.
