Recovery Timeline for NASA Astronauts After Nine-Month Space Stay
Dr. Christopher Mason from Weill Cornell Medicine discussed on 'Fox & Friends' the physical effects on astronauts after spending nine months in space. U.S. astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are set to focus on readjusting to Earth's conditions after their return from the International Space Station on Tuesday evening.
Dr. Mason highlighted that spaceflight causes significant changes in the body, particularly affecting the immune system due to the stress of being in space. He was involved in NASA’s Twins Study, which compared the physiological changes in astronaut Scott Kelly during his year-long mission in 2016 to his twin brother, Mark Kelly, who stayed on Earth.
Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who traveled aboard Boeing's Starliner capsule, have been in microgravity since June. Their mission was initially planned for just one week, but complications led to an extended stay. This has resulted in temporary physical changes, such as increased height and reduced body mass.
Dr. Mason noted that most changes are temporary, with the first few days back on Earth being the most challenging. Former astronaut Jose M. Hernandez, who spent 14 days in space, emphasized the need for extensive physical therapy to rebuild muscle and bone strength, recalling his own experience of readjusting to gravity.
The astronauts are expected to take a few months to fully acclimate to life on Earth again.