After spending nearly nine months in space, astronauts Suni Williams and Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore have returned to solid ground—but their bodies are still adjusting.
Life in space reconfigures the human form in some unexpected ways. Astronauts experience height gains, facial puffiness, and muscle loss due to fluid redistribution and the absence of gravity. However, within days of landing, astronauts begin to shrink back to their normal height, facial puffiness subsides, and their bodies start rebuilding lost muscle and bone strength. Wilmore and Williams will next be back to their own height again, faces no longer puffy, bodies beginning to rebuild lost muscle and bone strength.
NASA physicians indicated that both astronauts are in good health after landing. “NASA flight surgeon Dr. Joe Dervay noted the astronauts’ rapid recovery, saying, “It’s amazing how fast they adjust. “In a few days, you wouldn’t know they were up there for months.”
But readjustment goes beyond appearance. Extended weightlessness can cause motion sickness, bone weakness, and vision problems.
To aid recovery, astronauts undergo rehabilitation programs that focus on cardiovascular fitness, strength training, and balance exercises to rebuild lost muscle and bone density.
Originally scheduled for just an eight-day mission, Wilmore and Williams’ extended stay has not caused any major health concerns. The specialists at NASA are confident that their long-term health is still good.
Wilmore and Williams’ extended stay provides valuable research on the long-term effects of space travel—critical data for upcoming Moon and Mars missions as scientists prepare for deep-space exploration.
