After spending nine tough months in space, it’s no surprise that the NASA astronauts who were ‘stuck’ in orbit look different now.
On Tuesday, March 18, NASA astronauts Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore and Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams finally returned to Earth aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. They had been ‘stranded’ on the International Space Station (ISS) since June last year.
Being away from Earth for so long has affected their health, which NASA expected. Right after their splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico near Tallahassee, Florida, the astronauts were taken away on stretchers because they couldn’t stand on their own.
Apart from breathing fresh air again, Wilmore and Williams are also feeling Earth’s gravity for the first time in nine months. This comes with several health challenges.
According to the Daily Mail, the astronauts could face problems like ‘chicken legs’ and ‘baby feet’ due to muscle loss, as well as a higher risk of developing cancer. Even though they are back on Earth, they are not completely out of danger.
At NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, both astronauts are undergoing medical tests. Experts believe there are already signs of health issues.
Some people noticed that Wilmore and Williams looked thinner in before-and-after photos, suggesting they may have lost weight in space.
Doctors also warn that fluid may have built up in their heads due to pressure on their eyes and nerves. This could change their appearance and cause vision problems.
There is even a medical term for this condition: Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS). It causes swelling in the optic nerve and can lead to blurry vision.
While most astronauts’ vision improves after returning to Earth, NASA says some effects could be permanent, especially after such a long mission.
The astronauts’ brains may also be affected. Changes in pressure, along with stress and lack of sleep, can lead to cognitive issues, as seen in past space missions.
One of the biggest risks, however, is microgravity. Without Earth’s gravity, muscles weaken over time, making it hard to maintain a healthy weight. This explains why the astronauts couldn’t walk when they first landed.
Even though they followed a strict exercise routine and ate high-calorie meals in space, they still lost muscle. This may explain why they look weaker now.
Another possible issue is Spaceflight Venous Thrombosis (SVT), which causes fluids to shift upwards in the body, making astronauts’ faces look swollen. This happens because, in space, they are essentially floating upside down.
Fortunately, NASA says most astronauts recover their fitness within 45 days, though in some cases, full recovery can take months or even years.
Retired British astronaut Tim Peake shared his experience on RadioX:
“For me, going into space was easy, but for the first two days back on Earth, I felt terrible. I think Butch and Suni must be feeling the same way right now. Their bodies are adjusting to gravity again, and their balance is off. They probably feel dizzy and a little sick. It will take them a couple of days to get over that.”
