Sunita Williams after returning from spacePhoto: Reuters file photo
Spending time in space and seeing the unparalleled view of planet Earth is like a dream for many of us.
The human body is usually used to working under the force of gravity of the Earth. So after spending time in space in weightlessness, it can take several years for the astronaut’s body to fully recover after returning to Earth.
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore returned to Earth on Tuesday after spending 9 months in space. They originally went on an 8-day mission in space. However, due to a mechanical failure in the spacecraft, they were stuck there for 9 months. Finally, they returned to Earth. Now it’s time for them to recover.
Professor Damian Bailey, who studies the human body at the University of South Wales, said that the space environment is the most extreme of the environments that humans have ever encountered. People are not used to handling these extreme conditions.
When you go into space, your body changes. At first, it feels amazing.
Astronaut Tim Peake, who went to the International Space Station in 2015, said, “It’s like a vacation. Your heart just has to work harder. Your muscles and bones don’t have to work as hard. You’re floating around the space station in a wonderful zero-gravity environment.”
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore went to the International Space Station on an eight-day mission. They were later trapped there for nine months. AFP file photo
Aging accelerates
In space, the human heart and blood vessels do not have much work. They become weak while being inactive.
There needs to be a balance between the cells that break down old bone and form new bone. However, when working against the force of gravity, this balance is disrupted. The bones become weaker and more fragile.
Professor Bailey said, “About 1 percent of their bones and muscles dry out every month. This accelerates aging.”
This became clear after returning to Earth.
The video shows that the astronauts could not do things like getting out of the capsule and onto the stretcher alone. They had to take help from others.
And for these reasons, the astronauts have to go to space in very good physical condition.
Now Sunita and Butch will have to exercise vigorously to regain the lost functionality of their bodies.
Helen Sharman, the first British astronaut to go to space, said, “It will probably take them a few months to build up their muscle mass.”
It may take a few years to restore bone mass. But it may not return to normal completely.
Not only muscles and bones, but the entire body can change in space.
The type of good bacteria in the human body changes. There are also changes in the fluids in the body. Instead of going down to the feet like on Earth, fluids in space rise up to the chest and face.
The first change that is noticeable in the human body after returning from space is swelling of the face.
The brain can change in space. Various changes can occur in the eyes, including the optic nerve and retina. Even the shape of the eyes can change.
A complication called neuro-ocular syndrome can occur during space travel. This can cause irreversible damage, including blurred vision.
‘Feeling dizzy’
It can take some time for the body to adjust after returning to Earth from space.
Tim Peaks says that it can take two to three days to recover from the initial dizziness, regain balance and regain the strength to walk normally.
According to him, the first two to three days after returning to Earth from space seem very punishing.
