NASA astronaut Sunita Williams begins a 45-day rehabilitation program to address health challenges that may be faced after a long stay in space | World News
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have begun a 45-day rehabilitation program to help them adapt to Earth’s gravity after spending nine months in space. The duo (Indian era) returns to SpaceX’s Crew-9 Mission, descending on the Florida coast. After extended stays on the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts will now perform physical repairs to counteract the effects of long-term weight loss.
Astronauts returning from space often experience physiological changes, including causing swelling faces, muscle atrophy, resulting in muscle atrophy in chicken legs, temporary height increase and reduced bone density. Microgravity affects all aspects of the astronaut’s body, including aerobic capacity, muscle strength, endurance, endurance, balance, coordination, bone density, and neural vestibular function.
Astronauts’ strength, conditioning and rehabilitation (ASCR) experts have implemented structured repair programs designed to restore physical health. The rehabilitation process begins immediately, 7 days a week, involving two hours of courses per day, for 45 days. The program is tailored for each astronaut based on test results, medical conditions and mission roles.
Rehabilitation is divided into three stages. The first phase begins on landing day, focusing on mobility, flexibility and muscle enhancement. The second stage combines proprioception practice and cardiovascular training, while the third stage is also the longest stage prioritizes functional development. Past cases show that astronauts usually return to their pre-flight physical condition after completing this program.
Williams and Wilmore’s long stay in space has not been planned. They launched an eight-day mission on Boeing’s Starliner on June 5 last year. However, technical problems with the spacecraft’s propulsion system forced them to return without them, thus increasing the residence time of the International Space Station. Their situation has attracted widespread attention and sparked debate on space travel security and even political discussions.
The return process begins with Crew-10 on Sunday to the ISS, allowing Williams, Wilmore, NASA’s Nick Hague and Cosmonaut Aleksandr
Gorbunov started preparing for their journey home. Seventeen hours after setting off ISS, their SpaceX Dragon capsules splashed safely at 3:27 am IST. After they were retrieved from the capsule, they were immediately sent to rehabilitation for medical evaluation.
