NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore are finally preparing to return home after being stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for nine months due to a thruster malfunction. But their journey is far from over—Earth’s gravity will feel like an alien force after so long in space.
The issue of gravity: Learning to walk once
When Williams and Wilmore area on March 19 or 20, they won’t be heading right home. Instead, they may experience extensive medical evaluations to determine the burden of continuous weightlessness.
” I’ve been up here long enough, right then I’ve been trying to remember what it’s like to walk”, Williams admitted in a new contact with students, reported NewsX. ” I haven’t walked. I haven’t sat over. I haven’t laid down”.
Physicians estimate it may take up to six months for the pilots to restore their power, as their muscles and bones have weakened in gravity.
Energy coverage: A silent danger
Beyond body loss, a more harmful problem looms—radiation coverage. Without Earth’s safe environment, pilots face intense cosmic rays that can penetrate deeply into their body, increasing the risk of long-term health problems, including cancers.
” We want to consider a different view around, given their distinctive coverage history”, warned cardiologist Dr. Vinay Gupta, who emphasized the need for specialized examinations.
A tough road to recovery
Rebuilding power and relearning simple movements will arise in three important phases:
- Relearning to wander – Astronauts may retrain their bodies to walk and proceed under Earth’s weight.
- Strengthening muscle and the soul – Without weight, the brain doesn’t have to work as hard, leading to cardio deconditioning.
- Full natural healing – Regaining stability, strength, and normal biological characteristics.
Just after completing this strenuous treatment does Williams and Wilmore get ready to return to normal life.
NASA and SpaceX: Searching for answers
Nevertheless, NASA and SpaceX continue investigating the propeller failure that left the pilots in purgatory. Their profit marks the end of one room mission—but the beginning of another: proving that people can withstand the harshest conditions area has to offer.