The two NASA astronauts who spent an unexpectedly long time in space are in for a rough landing—literally and figuratively.
After enduring more than nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will be physically unable to walk upon their return to Earth, thanks to the brutal effects of prolonged exposure to low gravity, as reported by The Daily Mail.
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Williams and Wilmore were originally scheduled for just an eight-day mission after launching aboard Boeing’s Starliner on June 5. But in what’s become yet another embarrassment for Boeing, their spacecraft suffered a cascade of technical issues, forcing NASA to delay their return until they could hitch a safer ride back home.
Now, with their return slated for March 19 or 20, the two astronauts will immediately be stretchered out of their SpaceX capsule and whisked away for medical evaluations.
Dr. Vinay Gupta, an Air Force veteran and pulmonologist, predicts that Williams and Wilmore will need up to six weeks of intensive rehabilitation to rebuild their strength.
The process will begin on day one, with an immediate focus on regaining their ability to walk, improving flexibility, and rebuilding lost muscle mass.
Despite the mandatory two-hour daily exercise regimen aboard the ISS, the reality is that no amount of space workouts can fully counteract the devastating impact of low gravity on the human body.
“Astronauts lose musculature, they lose bone density,” explained Dr. John Jaquish, a biomedical engineer. “The human body needs the Earth’s gravitational pull, and in an absence of that, a lot of things are not functioning correctly.”
NASA research shows that after just five days in space, astronauts can lose up to 20% of their muscle mass. Weight-bearing bones, including the spine and legs, weaken by as much as 1.5% per month.
A six-month mission can leave an astronaut as physically frail as someone decades older. The risk? Premature osteoporosis, an increased likelihood of bone fractures, and long-term cardiovascular complications.
On top of that, there’s the radiation factor. The ISS exposes astronauts to extreme levels of cosmic radiation, equivalent to a year’s worth of exposure on Earth in just a single week.
Over time, this can significantly increase the risks of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and central nervous system damage. Dr. Gupta suggested that Williams and Wilmore should undergo proactive cancer screenings given their “unique exposure history.”
NASA’s recovery protocol for long-duration astronauts is a 45-day rehabilitation program that involves three phases. Phase one focuses on walking and flexibility, phase two adds cardio reconditioning, and phase three is all about rebuilding physical performance to pre-mission levels.
While most astronauts regain much of their strength, full recovery isn’t always guaranteed. Bone density loss, for example, can be permanent unless countered with highly specialized training—requiring the astronauts to lift weights heavier than four times their own body weight, a feat even world-record-holding powerlifters struggle to achieve.
But the challenges aren’t just physical. Psychiatrist Dr. Carole Lieberman warned that the mental toll of their extended stay in space could be just as taxing.
Fear, frustration, and even resentment may surface once Williams and Wilmore fully process their ordeal. Though they have publicly downplayed any notion of feeling “stranded,” Dr. Lieberman suggests there could be hidden emotions of betrayal or anger.
NASA may try to frame this as just another successful mission, but the reality is far less glamorous.
These astronauts are returning in rough shape, victims of both the brutal realities of space travel and the incompetence of a contractor whose failures extended their mission well beyond what was planned. The road to recovery will be long, and for Williams and Wilmore, the battle is only just beginning.
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