The biggest challenge for Sunita William and Butch Wilmore’s will be gravity as it would feel like a punishing force while readapting to life on earth.
Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who are stranded in space, are set to return to Earth on March 19. However, once they’re back, they may struggle to adjust to Earth’s gravity. Their bodies will have to re-adapt, and gravity might feel like a heavy force as they get used to life on Earth again.
Wilmore said that gravity will be the main challenge for them when they return to earth. In an interview with CNN Wilmore said that “Gravity is really tough, and that’s what we feel when we get back,”. “Gravity starts pulling everything to lower extremities; fluids will be pulled down, and even lifting a pencil will feel like a workout.”
Williams agrees with Wilmore, saying that getting used to life on Earth will be tough. The sudden change could cause discomfort and make them feel heavy.
How can astronauts strengthen their bones?
Recent experiments by the European Space Agency (ESA) showed that astronauts might face cartilage damage because of reduced movement in space. Not moving much can cause the cartilage to thin and cells to group together, which are early signs of arthritis.
A new study published in the journal npj Microgravity found that jumping exercises helped boost cartilage in mice. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University, US, discovered that training mice to jump three times a week made their cartilage thicker and healthier with a normal structure.
“Since future space missions will involve long stays on Mars and the Moon, cartilage damage is a big problem that space agencies need to solve, even though we still don’t fully understand it,” said Marco Chiaberge, an astrophysicist at Johns Hopkins University, the Space Telescope Science Institute, and the ESA.
He also mentioned that,“The positive effect we saw in these mice is huge, and the magnitude of it was unexpected. They can basically make their cartilage thicker if they jump. Maybe astronauts could use similar training before their flight as a preventive measure,”
Williams is expected to follow a tough rehabilitation program to regain her strength and bone density. Despite the challenges, both astronauts are excited about returning home. “Floating in space is a lot of fun; I like my crazy hair,” Wilmore has said.
Wilmore and Williams are set to return on SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft.
