Explanator
Nine months in space can constantly modify the body, leaving astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore with possible long -term health effects.
It was a mission that lasted much longer than expected.
The United States Astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore went to space on board the Boeing Starliner Calypso on June 5, 2024. They had to spend eight days at the International Space Station (ISS).
But as the spacecraft approached the station, its propellers did not work and NASA ordered them to stay on the ISS while determining how to bring them back.
It lasted nine months, 288 days, making Williams and Wilmore two of the oldest astronauts in NASA in space in a single mission.
Who has spent the most time in space?
The ISS orbit at an altitude of 354 km (220 miles) while the average March from the land is 225 million drugs (140 million miles).
The astronaut Frank Rubio holds the record for the longest spatial mission in NASA, spending more than a year on the ISS.
The overall record for a single space flight belongs to Russian Valeri Polyakov, which spent 437 days aboard the MIR space station.
When is the SpaceX Crew-9 mission returned to Earth?
The Dragon Spacex spacecraft with Williams and Wilmore on board splashed around 5:57 p.m. Local time (21:57 GMT) off Florida, after defeating the ISS at 05:05 GMT.
On board with Wilmore and Williams, Roscosmos Cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
NASA has provided the coverage of the advantage of the splashing advantage.
Now back on earth, the crew will have to adapt to being back on earth both physically and mentally.
How to live in space harms the body?
Speating months in microgravity is brutal for the body. Without the gravitational attraction of the earth, the muscles shrink, the bones weaken and the body fluids move.
Astronauts quickly lose muscle mass because they do not use their legs to endure their weight. Their bones become fragile and they lose 1% of their bone mass per month – equivalent to an entire year of aging on earth.
Another major concern is influence. Although the ISS is protected by the magnetosphere of the earth, astronauts over missions of six months or more receive more than ten times the radiation than what occurs naturally on earth. Prolonged exposure is linked to higher risk of cancer and a potential cognitive decline.
- Body mass and fluids: Astronauts lose around 20% of their body fluids and around 5% of their body mass in space.
- Muscle: Microgravity causes muscle atrophy, but exercise for two hours a day, six days a week and supplements can reduce muscle loss.
- Skin: The skin flips, tears easily and heals slowly in space.
- Eyes: Microgravity alters vision while radiation increases the risk of cataract.
- DNA: Most genes are reset after returning to earth, but about 7% remain disrupted.
- Psychosomatic and cognition: The radiation can cause brain damage and the appearance of Alzheimer’s. The space disrupts orientation, causing the evil of transport.
- Cardiovascular system: The blood circulation slows down and the production of red blood cells decreases. Cardiac arrhythmia is common.
- Immune system: The immune system is weakening. The exposure to radiation of six months in space is equivalent to 10 times the annual exhibition on earth.
- Bone: Skeletal deformation and bone loss are probably with 1% of the bone mass lost each month. Astronauts become larger because their thorns develop in orbit.
How does the body recover on earth?
The return to earth does not immediately defeat months of tension on the bodies of astronauts. While their body readjusts gravity, they experience balance problems, dizziness and weakened cardiovascular function.
Even months after landing, everything does not recover. They are faced with long -term health risks, including cancer, nerve damage and degenerative diseases.
- Arrival of space: The spine returns to a normal size. Flatulence is no longer a problem and the blood pressure normalized.
- A week later: Transport evil, disorientation and balance problems disappear. Sleep comes back to normal.
- Two weeks later: The immune system is recovered and lost body fluids are found. The production of red blood cells returns to normal.
- A month later: The muscle reform is almost complete and almost pre-vol.
- Three months later: The redevelopment of the skin is finished. Body mass returns to the levels of the earth and the problems of sight no longer exist.
- Six months later: The risk of bone fractures remains as well as an increased risk of cancer. Eighty-three percent of genes return to normal, but 7% remain disturbed.
