America’s space heroes are facing a brutal physical toll that few people can imagine – and they can thank President Joe Biden’s administration for leaving them up there so long. NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, stranded in space for nine months, have returned to earth and now face serious medical woes.
At a glance:
• NASA astronauts Williams and Wilmore were unable to walk when they returned after 9 months in space
• Astronauts lose 1-2% of bone density monthly in space, increasing fracture risk
• Their extended mission has exposed them to radiation equivalent to nine years on Earth
• Rehabilitation will involve a 45-day program focusing on strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular reconditioning
• Some astronauts never fully recover their pre-flight physical condition
The Physical Toll of Extended Space Missions
Now that NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore have finally returned to Earth, they face immediate and severe physical challenges that will be far worse than what they would have experienced had they only been in space for as long as originally planned. The pair has been stranded aboard the International Space Station for nine months after technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft extended their mission indefinitely…and after President Joe Biden refused to allow SpaceX to rescue them.
Medical experts warn the astronauts will be unable to walk on their own and will require immediate assistance upon landing. Dr. John Jaquish, a biomedical engineer, explained that Earth’s gravity maintains muscle and bone health, but extended time in space causes significant atrophy.
Williams herself admitted the severity of the situation in a recent communication from the ISS.
“I’ve been up here long enough, right now I’ve been trying to remember what it’s like to walk. I haven’t walked. I haven’t sat down. I haven’t laid down,” she stated. And now that’s her reality.
Long-Term Health Risks and Rehabilitation
The health challenges facing Williams and Wilmore extend far beyond mobility issues. According to medical professionals, the astronauts have lost between 9-18% of their bone density during their extended mission, significantly increasing their risk of fractures and osteoporosis.
Radiation exposure presents another serious concern for the returning astronauts. Dr. Vinay Gupta, a pulmonologist and Air Force veteran, noted that Williams and Wilmore have been exposed to radiation equivalent to nine years on Earth during their nine-month mission, substantially increasing their cancer risk.
“If I was their physician, I would think about a more proactive strategy for cancer screening. We want to take a different approach here, given that they had such a unique exposure history,” Dr. Gupta told reporters.
NASA has developed a comprehensive 45-day rehabilitation program divided into three phases to help the astronauts recover. The program includes specialized strength training, flexibility exercises, proprioceptive training, and cardiovascular reconditioning to help them readjust to Earth’s gravity.
The road to recovery for Williams and Wilmore will be long and arduous. Medical experts indicate that full recovery of bone density and physical performance can take months or years after extended space missions, with some astronauts never fully regaining their pre-flight condition.
Question is…if their symptoms are substantially worse than expected, can they say President Biden’s administration for blocking efforts to save them?
