Welcome Back to Earth: Astronauts Return After 9 Months
The astronauts' return is a significant milestone, marking the end of a nine-month journey that has taken a toll on their bodies. As they recover, they will undergo intense training to regain lost muscle and bone mass, and adjust to life back on Earth. Their experience will provide valuable insights for future space missions, and their return is a welcome one, marking the end of a historic and challenging journey.
Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are returning to Earth after a nine-month stay on the International Space Station, a mission that was extended due to technical issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. They will be landing on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, along with an American astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut, marking the end of a historic and challenging journey.
The prolonged stay in space has taken a toll on the astronauts' bodies, with muscle and bone loss, accelerated ageing, and other physical changes. In space, the human body undergoes significant changes, including weakened muscles, brittle bones, and a weakened heart and blood vessels. The astronauts will have to undergo intense exercise training to regain lost muscle and bone mass, a process that can take months or even years.
The recovery process will be challenging, with astronauts needing support to move around and experiencing dizziness and disorientation. They will also have to deal with changes in their microbiome and fluid distribution in the body, leading to swelling in the brain and eyes. Despite the challenges, NASA is providing support to help the astronauts readjust to life on Earth.
The return of Williams and Wilmore marks the end of a remarkable mission, one that has pushed the boundaries of human endurance in space. As they begin their recovery, they will be compensated for their extended stay, with a standard salary and a small daily allowance for incidentals. Their experience will also provide valuable insights for future long-duration space missions.