Due to complications with the Boeing return capsule, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been trapped aboard the ISS for almost nine months, and experts are predicting some rather serious physical effects on the astronauts return.
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The nine months endured by the straded astronauts isn't a record breaker. The current record for the longest time spent in space is held by Valeri Vladimirovich Polyakov, a russian cosmonaut, who spent a total of 14 months on the Mir space station. He made a full recovery. However, experts are still concerned about the effects on the health of the American astronauts upon their return.
Williams and Wilmore are expected to return on the Space X shuttle on the 18th or 19th of March. There have been many delays to their eventual recovery. But this time, the rocket scientists are hopeful they will be successful.
Muscle Wastage, Radiation, And Mental Health Impact Effects On ISS Astronauts
Initially, the trip made by Willaims and Wilmore was only supposed to be eight days. Although they were trained to endure longer, they would never have dreamed of being up there for nine months. This, of course, will have had significant effects on their mental health.
Alongside this comes the reduction in muscle mass and bone density from being in zero gravity for an extended period. The major concern for the astronauts' health comes from their depleted strength. Despite working out for around two hours a day, the lack of gravity still takes its toll.
Research shows that astronauts between 30 and 50 will lose around half their strength from the effects of zero gravity.
As well as strength and mental health effects, the astronauts will have been exposed to a significant amount of radiation. Medical experts are concerned that there will be a much higher risk of cancer in the two space farers. Extensive screening will be needed on their return.
As they touch down, the pair will need to be taken into medical treatment immediately. It is expected that physical rehabilitation will begin immediately.
Before they are fit and ready to begin life on terra firma once more, around six weeks of physical rehabilitation will be required. But, I am sure that just being home and able to see their loved ones will be enough to keep them in high spirits.
