Off The Record
Photographs Of Stranded Astronauts Returning To Earth Show The Startling Effects Of Spending Nine Months In Space
It may not be shocking to learn that the NASA astronauts who were “stuck” in orbit have a slightly different appearance after a demanding nine months in space.
After being’stranded’ on the ISS since June of last year, NASA astronauts Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore and Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams were returned to Earth on Tuesday, March 18, aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
After their splash landing off the Gulf Coast, close to Tallahassee, Florida, we witnessed the team being hauled away on stretchers before they could even take a single foot on land, demonstrating NASA’s obvious awareness that being away from home for so long is likely to have a negative impact on their health.
In addition to actually breathing oxygen from the air, Wilmore and Williams are experiencing gravity against their bones for the first time in nine months, which in and of itself raises a number of possible health concerns.
According to the Daily Mail, the astronauts are still dealing with health issues after returning home, with problems ranging from “chicken legs” and “baby feet” to an elevated risk of cancer.
At NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, the couple is undergoing a battery of medical examinations, but some specialists caution that there are already some warning signs that point to a potential deterioration in their health.
According to several witnesses, Wilmore and Williams looked haggard in before and after photos, possibly having lost weight while in space.
According to experts, strain on their eyes and optical nerves may cause a buildup of fluids in their brain, which could impair their appearance.
This condition is even known as Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS), and it is the cause of the optic nerve enlargement that results in fuzzy or blurry vision.
NASA states that some adverse effects may be permanent, depending on how long the team stays in space, even though many astronauts’ eyes return to normal after landing on Earth. This is troubling for the two because of their lengthy mission.
Their cognitive abilities may deteriorate as previously shown in certain astronauts due to a combination of stress, sleep deprivation, and shifting brain pressures.
The biggest danger for the couple, however, is microgravity since astronauts’ muscles deteriorate over time in the absence of Earth’s pull, making it difficult for them to maintain a healthy weight.
The two were unable to walk upon their initial arrival on Earth, which is also explained by this.
They may have muscle atrophy despite their rigorous exercise regimen and high-calorie diet on board the ISS, which may possibly be a factor in their fragile appearance.
Then there is Spaceflight Venous Thrombosis (SVT), which is caused by essentially hanging upside down and involves an upward fluid shift that can make the face appear “puffy.”
Thankfully, according to NASA, most astronauts recover to their pre-mission fitness levels in 45 days, however in extreme circumstances, recovery may take months or even a year.
Retired British astronaut Tim Peake said on RadioX: “For me, going into space was no problem at all, but for the first two days on Earth, I felt pretty rough.”
“I think Butch and Suni will be feeling a bit rough right now. You know, the whole body is just getting used to gravity. The vestibular systems a bit messed up. You feel dizzy, a bit nauseous. So, it’ll take them a couple of days to get over that.”
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