Featured Image Credit: NASA
It's nearly time for stranded astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to finally return from the International Space Station back to Earth, but one doctor has revealed a shocking admission regarding what happens to their bodies after spending 9 months in space.
The eyes of the world have been fixed on Williams and Wilmore's strange and arduous trip to the International Space Station (ISS), as what was supposed to just be a simple eight day mission back in June 2024 has continued for over nine months now.
Issues with both their Boeing Starliner and the SpaceX Crew-10 Dragon spacecraft that would allow them to return home have left them 'stranded' upon the ISS, and only next week will they finally return back home to their families - something that has been extremely challenging for Williams.
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While there has been significant debate surrounding the reason for the delay, with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk placing the blame on the former Biden administration for the hold up after US President Donald Trump asked him to 'go get' the pair, but the most important thing for now is that their long wait is nearly over.
It's not all sunshine and roses though, as their return could indicate some major health problems that come as a part of spending such a long time in space.
During their stay on the International Space Station many began to grow concerned about their appearance - Thankfully NASA clarified that everything is fine and there's nothing to worry about, but there remains a major issue that they'll both have to power through almost immediately after landing.
Much like the Crew-8 astronauts that returned last October, Williams and Wilmore will have to be immediately admitted to a medical facility on stretchers, in which they will undertake a six-week rehabilitation program in order to regain their strength.
Suni Williams has previously commented on the challenges that she'll have to face in relearning how to walk, and they've both had to undertake rigorous exercises while on board the ISS in order to avoid a dangerous health condition.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, pulmonologist and Air Force veteran Dr. Vinay Gupta has revealed why spending time in space can be dangerous for the health of astronauts:
"The human body needs the Earth's gravitational pull, and in absence of that, a lot of things are not functioning correctly," explains Dr. Gupta. "The reality is, they're effectively getting a fraction of the sort of exercise that we all take for granted just by walking in [Earth's] gravity. Invariably, despite them doing all the right things {which I know they are) you're going to see a decrease in muscle mass and strength - no question."
On top of this, Dr. Gupta has expressed his concerns around the radiation that Williams and Wilmore will have been exposed to, prompting physicians to conduct ":a more proactive strategy for cancer screening," just to be extra careful.
