Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have returned to Earth after spending nine months at the International Space Station (ISS). They originally flew to the ISS in June last year on Boeing’s Starliner for what was meant to be a short mission. However, the spacecraft developed propulsion issues and was declared unfit to return, forcing Williams and Wilmore to stay in space much longer than planned.
After months in microgravity, their bodies have undergone several changes. NASA reports that Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmor experience swelling in the upper body, thinner legs, increased height, and weaker bones due to the lack of gravity. To recover, they will now undergo a 45-day rehabilitation programme to help their bodies adjust to life back on Earth.
Microgravity affects the body in many ways, including changes in blood flow, muscle use, and organ function. It alters blood pressure, the amount of blood the heart pumps, and can even cause long-term effects on organs and blood vessels. Astronauts also face challenges like reduced muscle strength, lower bone density, and balance issues.
NASA says astronauts returning from space may struggle with agility, coordination, endurance, and flexibility. This is why rehabilitation is essential to help them regain strength and function.
Despite these challenges, space missions like this one help scientists learn more about how the human body adapts to space. These findings are crucial for planning future missions, including long-term stays on the Moon and Mars.
Who is Sunita Williams?
She is an American astronaut who set records on her three flights to the International Space Station (ISS).
She was the second American astronaut of Indian heritage to go into space, after Kalpana Chawla.
Her father, Deepak Pandya, was an Indian-American neuroanatomist from Gujarat, while her mother, Ursuline Bonnie Pandya (née Zalokar) was a Slovene-American.
