People typically view space exploration as a human triumph yet practitioners experiencing its associated extreme bodily problems remain invisible to most observers.
For NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore, their recent return to Earth after an unplanned nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS) has sparked global discussions about the toll of extended space travel.
The pair ended up staying longer than their initial planned duration because NASA had to address technical problems with their spacecraft that would return them to Earth.
The extended spaceflight required them to leave routine missions behind for 300 days of weightless existence that few human beings have experienced.
Extensive astronaut training does not provide adequate preparation against the complete biological impact which zero gravity causes during extended space missions.
Astronauts exercise strictly during orbit as mandated by NASA although space causes permanent changes to the body which astronauts discover only after their return to Earth.
Bodily fluids experience a fundamental change in their positioning as a result of extended space flights.
Earth’s gravitational forces stabilize bodily fluids yet exposure to space microgravity causes fluids to move toward the head creating facial puffiness as well as blocks airways in the sinuses.
The celestial fluid migration triggers various vision disturbances which astronauts can face even after returning to Earth.
The Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS) affects numerous astronauts so experts predict that longer space missions will worsen the condition.
The most significant hurdle is the reduction of bone and muscular tissue found in the human body.
Daily physical activity does not prevent the body from weakening because the gravitational force remains permanently absent.
Faults in bone density development along with muscle atrophy happen at 1-2% per month which raises fracture susceptibility and results in extended periods of recovery after missions.
The human heart shows identical modifications in space conditions that affect standard muscles.
The absence of gravity-related blood pressure demands requires the cardiac muscle to reduce its size which creates health problems during gravity-based life post-spaceflight.
There are also cognitive risks.
Brain functions become impaired when astronauts experience long periods of weightlessness and simultaneously experience high amounts of stress together with sleep cycle disturbances.
NASA tracks the neurological condition of astronauts to guarantee their safe transition after returning from space back to Earth.
Giving exposure to radiation creates an additional danger element among others.
The radiation that astronauts encounter during space missions surpasses terrestrial levels because of which they run greater risks for cancer development along with various long-running medical complications.
NASA has taken measures to protect astronauts but space radiation remains the most critical issue NASA must address for human missions longer than Earth missions including flights to Mars.
NASA personnel had to use stretchers to extract Williams and Wilmore from their spacecraft after they returned to Earth.
The physical changes each astronaut experienced after spaceflight became obvious in serial pictures that documented the damages done to their bodies.
Visuals show that astronauts entered the mission with energetic expressions yet the conclusion images present the crew with weak appearances together with weakened muscle mass and evident physical fatigue.
Daily exercises in space did not prevent astronauts from experiencing the negative impacts associated with staying in weightless conditions.
Various specialists argue that space-induced modifications represent only the superficial manifestation of this phenomenon.
The fluid accumulation in their heads may persist to impact their vision until their muscle and bone recovery takes up to multiple months.
Most astronauts will recover their pre-launch fitness levels in about 45 days but various cases may extend this recovery period according to NASA estimates.
British astronaut Tim Peake shared his return to Earth experience with a description of his adjustment period by saying:
My time in space created no difficulties yet I experienced serious symptoms of body unsteadiness when I returned to Earth during the initial two days. Gravity adjustment affects the entire body because it needs time to adapt. Your body experiences dizziness along with nausea. So, it’ll take them a couple of days to get over that.”
Space traveler safety risks become evident through the drastic bodily adjustments sustained by Williams and Wilmore during their mission.
Their return concludes their extraordinary space travel and initiates a new phase which requires their body to adjust to gravity.
The scientists will utilize this experience along with research findings to build training methods for future missions towards Mars.
Feature Image Credit: (NASA) and (Youtube/SBS News)