Written By: Satata Karmakar | Published : March 7, 2025 4:56 PM IST
Sunita Williams' Return To Earth: 'I Have Forgotten How To Walk' - NASA Astronaut Shares Health Problems From Space
Sunita Williams News: After being stuck at the International Space Station (ISS) for over 9 months, the Indian-origin NASA astronaut is finally returning to Earth. In its latest updates, NASA has revealed that Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are set to re-enter the Earth's gravity by mid-March. Initially planned for a brief 7-days space mission, their stay at the ISS was unexpectedly prolonged due to technical issues with their return spacecraft. While their homecoming is a great news, experts have raised serious health concerns that the NASA astronauts will face post-landing. "The real challenge for the astronauts starts after they re-enter Earth's gravitational force. After being exposed to microgravity for a prolonged period, the body faces several health challenges," experts quoted as saying.
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry 'Butch' Wilmore went on their space mission in June 2024 aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. As NASA reported, the plan for their stay at the ISS was initially for 7 days. However, shortly after docking, the Starliner carrying them encountered serious technical glitches, including propellant leaks and other malfunctions. This made their return journey unsafe. However, NASA made the critical decision to extend their stay on the ISS until a safe return method could be secured.
When Williams and Wilmore land back on Earth on March 19 or 20, they won't just step out of their spacecraft and head home. Instead, they will be taken directly to a medical facility for thorough evaluations. Experts warn that spending an extended period in space without gravity and being exposed to cosmic radiation can have long-term effects on their health.
Dr. Vinay Gupta, a pulmonologist and Air Force veteran, estimates that it could take up to six weeks for the astronauts to fully regain their strength. One of the biggest challenges they will face is simply learning how to walk again.
"I've been up here long enough; right now I've been trying to remember what it's like to walk," Williams said. She further added, "I haven't walked. I haven't sat down. I haven't laid down."
Extended exposure to microgravity can have a serious impact on astronauts' physical and mental health. While the spacecraft are well-equipped with required tools that can help the astronauts exercise daily even while stranded at the ISS, certain physiological changes are inevitable. The moment Williams re-enters Earth's gravity, she will struggle to stand, balance, and walk due to the following key reasons:
A serious health challenge that NASA astronauts are facing right now is severe muscle weakness, also known as muscle atrophy. When the human body is exposed to microgravity, the muscles do not need to support body weight, leading to significant muscle loss, especially in the legs, back, and core. According to the studies conducted by space scientists, astronauts can lose up to 20% of their muscle mass during long missions.
The second and the most disturbing health challenge that astronauts face when exposed to microgravity is severe bone density loss, or increased risk of fracture. As per studies, astronauts can experience a loss of 1-2% bone mass per month, similar to what an elderly person might experience over a year. This makes Williams' bones more fragile, increasing the risk of fractures when she returns to normal gravitational forces.
An astronaut also faces serious challenges in being able to maintain proper body balance. Studies have shown that when a human is exposed to space, the inner ear's fluid shifts, and the brain adapts to this new environment. However, upon returning to Earth's gravity, the body faces trouble in readjusting. Sometimes, this can make the astronaut suffer from dizziness, and nausea.
A human body also faces an increased risk of suffering heart-related problems when exposed to microgravity. As per experts, the bodily fluids shift upwards at space, this can lead to unusual facial puffiness and reduced blood volume in the legs. However, when the astronauts return to Earth, they often experience orthostatic intolerance, meaning they may feel dizzy or faint when standing up due to sudden blood pressure drops.
Astronauts may also suffer from serious vision loss issues when exposed to microgravity for a long period. This mainly happens due to increased intracranial pressure from fluid shifts in space. In medical terms, this condition is also known as Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS).
Dr. James Carter, a space medicine specialist, explains, "Astronauts returning from long-duration missions experience significant physiological challenges. The process of walking again is not just about muscle recovery but also about retraining the brain and balance system to function under gravity once more. With proper rehabilitation, astronauts like Williams can make a full recovery, though it takes time."
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