Written By: Satata Karmakar | Updated : March 8, 2025 4:59 PM IST
Sunita Williams’ Return to Earth: How Gravity Will Make Even Lifting a Pencil Feel Like a Workout For The NASA Astronaut
Sunita Williams' Return To Earth: NASA astronaut Sunita Williams is all set to return to Earth after spending over 9 months at the International Space Station (ISS). A mission that was initially planned for 7 days got delayed after their spacecraft detected severe technical glitches upon reaching space. As per the latest reports, the SpaceX Boeing which is carrying NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will touch down the Earth on March 19th 2025.
While re-entering Earth's atmosphere brings joy to many faces, especially the astronauts' families, experts have warned that this also signals the beginning of tons of health challenges that both of them will face. After being exposed to microgravity for over 9 months, Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore will face physical and mental health challenges upon their return. Explaining the level of difficulties that both the astronauts will face, experts have stated that upon arrival, even simple tasks, like lifting a pencil, will feel strenuous due to the reintroduction of Earth's gravity.
Living in space may look fascinating to many, but there are certain health challenges that astronauts face when they are exposed to microgravity, especially when the stay is for a long time. To understand how microgravity affects the astronauts' health, we checked some facts and data from NASA. Here is what we found out:
When a human body is exposed to microgravity for a long time, it doesn't use the muscles as much as they do on Earth. This mainly happens as they float rather than walk, which is why their muscles gradually weaken due to reduced strain. According to studies, astronauts can lose up to 20% of their muscle mass in just a few weeks, particularly in the legs, back, and neck.
Another major health concern for Sunita Williams at the moment is a sudden drop in her bone density -- a medical terminology for spaceflight osteopenia. As per research papers, when on Earth, gravity exerts constant pressure on bones, keeping them strong. However, this is not the case for the same human body when it is exposed to microgravity -- studies have shown that bones under microgravity weaken due to the lack of weight-bearing activity. "Astronauts lose 1-1.5% of their bone mass per month in space, making them prone to fractures upon returning".
In space, bodily fluids like blood and water shift toward the upper body. This can cause facial puffiness and increased intracranial pressure, affecting vision. Upon returning, astronauts experience a sudden shift in fluids back to their lower body, leading to dizziness, fainting, and difficulty standing.
Another serious effect of microgravity is its pressure on the heart. Experts have shown that since the heart doesn't have to work as hard to pump blood in microgravity, it weakens over time. This results in orthostatic intolerance, a condition where astronauts struggle to stand upright for extended periods due to low blood pressure and poor circulation.
The vestibular system, which helps humans maintain balance and spatial orientation, undergoes significant changes in microgravity. Upon returning to Earth, astronauts often experience vertigo, dizziness, and difficulty walking straight as their brains readjust to normal gravity.
In a recent statement, experts have said that after spending over 9 months in space, the human body is accustomed to weightlessness -- the affect of this exposure is so hug that it can make Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to struggle with tasks that once seemed effortless.
Why does this happen? It is mainly due to the fact that their muscles and bones have weakened (as discussed above), which can make the body feel tired even while performing simple and easy tasks.
Another reason behind it is the loss of muscle coordination. "Due to affected muscle coordination loss, simple actions like reaching for a cup or turning their head will require more effort as their neuromuscular system re-learns how to move under gravity's influence," experts quoted as saying.
To counteract the effects of prolonged space travel, NASA and other space agencies implement extensive rehabilitation programs. Here's what Sunita Williams' recovery process will entail:
Before the schedule take off, the astronauts will be spending "the final two weeks before launch in isolation to prevent exposure to any illnesses before they meet with existing crew members aboard the space station," NASA said in a statement.
The US-based space agency added, "The crew is targeted to launch at 7:48 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, March 12, aboard a Dragon spacecraft on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA Kennedy."
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore's return date will also depend on the weather conditions.
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