Two U.S. astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, have returned home safely after spending nine months in space, marking one of the longest space stays in recent history.
After spending over nine months orbiting the Earth, two U.S. astronauts have finally returned home, splashing down off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida. The capsule carrying American astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams emerged from the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft at 5:57 p.m. EDT on March 18.
Astronaut training is a rigorous process that involves physical conditioning, scientific knowledge, and space-specific skills.
Initially, astronauts were selected from the military and underwent basic flight training.
Today, NASA recruits professionals with advanced degrees in STEM fields.
Training includes weightlessness simulation, spacewalk practice, and Russian language instruction for ISS missions.
The Unexpected Mission
Wilmore and Wilmore left for their eight-day mission to the International Space Station on June 5, but their journey took an unexpected turn when the Boeing Starliner experienced technical issues as it neared the ISS. The vehicle returned to Earth without a crew, and NASA delayed their flight, bringing back a crewless Starliner.
Months later, the astronauts hitched a ride home with SpaceX, marking one of the longest space stays in recent history. Their mission has sparked interest in how prolonged exposure to microgravity affects the human body. Astronauts often experience bone and muscle loss, vision impairments, shifts in brain structure, and immune dysfunction during extended spaceflight.
The Health Implications
According to applied physiologist Rachael Seidler of the University of Florida, the longer someone has been in space, the larger the magnitude of change. However, the rate of change isn’t linear, slowing down after six months. Williams and Wilmore will undergo a series of intense medical tests from NASA called Spaceflight Standard Measures to examine their cognitive abilities, blood, urine, microbiomes, cardiovascular systems, and more.
Seidler expects the pair to experience balance problems for the first few days to weeks due to the effects of microgravity on the vestibular system. They may also have vision changes, with about 70 percent of astronauts who spend six months or more in space experiencing swelling in the backs of their eyes.
The Importance of Long-Term Spaceflight Research
Bioastronautics researcher Eliah Overbey notes that understanding how the human body responds to prolonged spaceflight is crucial for future space exploration. ‘Our ability to be competitive in space exploration is going to depend on our ability to keep astronauts healthy,’ she says. The medical tests conducted on Wilmore and Wilmore will help answer such questions, shedding light on the long-term effects of microgravity on the human body.
A New Era in Space Exploration
The successful return of Wilmore and Wilmore marks a significant milestone in space exploration, demonstrating humanity’s ability to adapt and overcome challenges in space. As scientists continue to push the boundaries of space travel, understanding the health implications of prolonged exposure to microgravity will be crucial for future missions.
SpaceX is a leading American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company founded by Elon Musk in 2002.
The company's primary goal is to reduce 'space transportation costs' and enable the colonization of Mars.
SpaceX has developed several advanced rockets, including the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, which have successfully launched numerous satellites, spacecraft, and cargo missions into orbit.
With its reusable rocket technology, SpaceX aims to make space travel more efficient and cost-effective.
- sciencenews.org | Two astronauts stuck in space for 9 months have returned to Earth
