The spaceflight of Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore is nearing its end. Their interspace mission has exceeded ten months, with their return to Earth scheduled for mid-March. The transition to Earth’s gravitational force presents significant challenges to the astronauts’ bodies.
Physical Challenges Of Prolonged Spaceflight
Leroy Chiao, a former NASA astronaut, provided key insights into the demanding situation. He described the spacing of astronauts’ feet as resembling “baby feet” after extended spaceflight. The disappearance of foot calluses in weightlessness is due to the lack of gravity-related stress, as reported by Moneycontrol.
According to Chiao, the space environment causes astronauts to lose their protective foot epidermis. Astronaut Terry Virts compared the experience of readjusting to Earth’s gravity to having the flu. He described feeling extremely heavy and experiencing intense dizziness upon return. The body requires several weeks to readjust after a space mission. Williams and Wilmore initially embarked on a mission planned to last only eight days.
Also Read: NASA Delays SpaceX Crew-10 Launch, Postponing Sunita Williams’ Return—Here’s Why
Technical Setbacks And Political Repercussions
The Boeing Starliner spacecraft encountered difficulties that prevented its normal operation, forcing the astronauts to remain aboard the International Space Station. Their prolonged stay became a medical concern, while NASA’s inaction triggered heated political discourse. Former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk blamed the Biden administration, accusing NASA of moving too slowly to retrieve the astronauts. However, NASA has now presented a successful retrieval schedule.
Planned Return To Earth
NASA has announced that Crew-9 is set to launch on March 12. Following this, the SpaceX Dragon capsule will serve as the return vehicle for Williams and Wilmore, with their flight back to Earth scheduled for March 16.
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