The mission that NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore took to space lasted far longer than originally planned. The two, who went on board the Boeing Starliner Calypso on June 5, 2024, returned after completing 288 days or nine months instead of just eight days on the International Space Station (ISS). According to experts, space travel, whether for the short term or a long time, can pose significant risks to both physical and mental health.
And for both Williams and Wilmore, there are going to be tough challenges when it comes to their well-being. What effect does living in space have on the human body?Related News | NASA Astronauts Sunita Williams And Butch Wilmore Landing On Earth Today: List Of Possible Health Challenges They May FaceNASA Astronauts Sunita Williams And Butch Wilmore Will Be Carried On Stretchers On Landing! Here’s WhyExperts say spending a lot of time in microgravity can be brutal on the body. Without the Earth’s gravitational pull, the body can suffer immensely from shrinking muscles, and weak bones as the bodily fluids shift.
Astronauts also lose muscle mass rapidly since they do not use their legs to support their weight in space. Doctors say due to this, their bones become fragile and even lose 1 per cent of their bone mass per month, which is equivalent to an entire year of ageing on Earth. Radiation increases the risk of cancerRelated News | How Earth's Gravity Will 'Punish' Sunita Williams On Return From Space - 'Even Lifting A Penc.
