After spending 286 days in space, astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore have safely returned to Earth. However, their challenges are far from over, as the process of readjusting to life on Earth can be difficult due to the physical toll space travel takes on the human body.
Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, along with astronauts Nick Hague and Alexander Gorbunov, returned to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. Following their splashdown off the coast of Tallahassee, the astronauts were promptly transported on reclining stretchers for medical evaluations.
After spending over nine months in microgravity, the returned astronauts will face significant changes to their bodies, along with increased health risks. Without proper care and treatment, some of these effects could become permanent.
In microgravity, an astronaut’s bones and muscles function differently, and upon returning to Earth, this can make it challenging to stand, walk, or even hold objects.
In space, the absence of Earth’s gravity causes the spine to elongate, resulting in a temporary increase in height. However, this also slows down the cells that build bone tissue, while those responsible for damaging bones continue to function at a normal rate, accelerating bone deterioration. Additionally, muscles weaken due to the lack of gravitational pull.
Each month in space, an astronaut’s weight-bearing bones lose about one percent of their density, leading to weaker and more brittle bones. As calluses diminish and the body becomes less accustomed to using the muscles and bones in the legs, astronauts develop a condition known as “baby feet.” This results in the loss of the thickened skin on the soles, making it difficult to walk upon return to Earth.
In space, astronauts are exposed to high levels of radiation from the Sun, which poses serious long-term health risks, including an increased likelihood of cancer, degenerative diseases, and central nervous system issues. Over the course of nine months, Sunita Williams would have been exposed to radiation levels equivalent to nearly 270 chest X-rays.
This, combined with bone density loss and weakened immune function, heightens the risk of osteoporosis and complicates recovery. According to NASA’s 2019 Twins Study, while most genes in the human body reset after returning to Earth, approximately 7 percent remain disrupted by the effects of space travel.
Space travel can also have lasting effects on an astronaut’s mental health. Disrupted sleep cycles and circadian rhythms, along with isolation and stress, contribute to an elevated risk of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline.
