After nine months in space, astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore are expected to face challenges when they return to Earth on March 16, 2025. Experts caution that the return to Earth’s [gravity](https://www.financialexpress.com/market/gravity-(india)-ltd-share-price/) could overwhelm their weakened bodies, which have been exposed to microgravity for an extended period. Medical teams will be ready to transport them on stretchers for immediate evaluations upon landing
Dr. Vinay Gupta, a pulmonologist and Air Force veteran, told DailyMail that the astronauts will need up to six weeks of intensive rehabilitation. This process will involve targeted exercises and a carefully managed nutrition plan to help restore muscle strength and bone density.
Despite their daily two-hour exercise routines aboard the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts still suffer from considerable muscle and bone loss. Dr. John Jaquish, a biomedical engineer, explained that while gravity on Earth helps maintain muscle and bone health, the absence of gravity in space leads to atrophy and deterioration.
According to NASA research, astronauts typically lose 1-2 percent of their bone density each month in space, which increases their risk of fractures and conditions like osteoporosis. Additionally, changes in blood circulation and fluid distribution affect their cardiovascular health.
Another concern is the radiation exposure astronauts face in space. In just one week aboard the ISS, astronauts are exposed to the equivalent of one year’s worth of radiation on Earth. Over the course of their nine-month mission, Williams and Wilmore will have experienced the equivalent of nine years’ worth of radiation exposure. This prolonged exposure raises the risk of cancer, central nervous system damage, and cardiovascular disease. NASA is monitoring their health closely and exploring new strategies to mitigate these risks.
Originally scheduled for an eight-day mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, Williams and Wilmore were delayed indefinitely due to a series of technical issues. The delays left them stranded on the ISS for months. With safety concerns surrounding Starliner, NASA decided to return them on a different spacecraft. While the ISS has provided a stable environment, the extended mission has had a significant impact on their health.