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NASA astronauts return to Earth after 9 months: How space changes the body
EXPLAINER
Nine months in space can permanently alter the body, leaving astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore with possible long-term health effects.
It was a mission that lasted far longer than planned.
United States astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore went to space on board the Boeing Starliner Calypso on June 5, 2024. They were meant to spend eight days on the International Space Station (ISS).
But as the spacecraft was approaching the station, its thrusters malfunctioned, and NASA ordered the astronauts to remain on the ISS while figuring out how to bring them back.
That lasted nine months, or 288 days, making Williams and Wilmore two of the longest-serving NASA astronauts in space on a single mission.
Who has spent the longest time in space?
The ISS orbits at an altitude of 354km (220 miles), while the average distance to Mars from Earth is a staggering 225 million kilometres (140 million miles).
Astronaut Frank Rubio holds the record for NASA’s longest space mission, spending more than a year on the ISS.
The overall record for a single spaceflight belongs to Russian Valeri Polyakov, who spent 437 days on board the Mir space station.
When did the SpaceX Crew-9 mission return to Earth?
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft that carried Williams and Wilmore to Earth splashed down at about 5.57pm local time (21:57 GMT) off the coast of Florida, after undocking from the ISS at 05:05 GMT.
On board with Wilmore and Williams was Russia’s Roscosmos astronaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.
NASA provided live coverage of the lead-up to the splashdown.
Now back on land, the crew will have to adjust to being back on Earth, both physically and mentally.
How does living in space harm the body?
Spending months in microgravity is brutal on the body. Without the Earth’s gravitational pull, muscles shrink, bones weaken and bodily fluids shift.
Astronauts lose muscle mass rapidly because they do not use their legs to support their weight. Their bones become fragile and they lose 1 percent of their bone mass per month – equivalent to an entire year of ageing on Earth.
Radiation is another major concern. Although the ISS is shielded by Earth’s magnetosphere, astronauts on missions lasting six months or longer receive more than 10 times the radiation than what is naturally occurring on Earth. Prolonged exposure is linked to higher cancer risks and potential cognitive decline.
- Body mass and fluids: Astronauts lose about 20 percent of their body fluids and about 5 percent of their body mass while in space.
- Muscle: Microgravity causes muscle atrophy, but exercise for two hours a day, six days a week and supplements can reduce muscle loss.
- Skin: Skin thins, tears easily and heals more slowly in space.
- Eyes: Microgravity impairs vision while radiation increases cataract risk.
- DNA: Most genes reset after returning to Earth, but about 7 percent remain disrupted.
- Psychosomatics and cognition: Radiation may cause brain damage and the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Space disrupts orientation, causing motion sickness.
- Cardiovascular system: Blood circulation slows down and production of red blood cells decreases. Cardiac arrhythmia is common.
- Immune system: The immune system weakens. Radiation exposure from six months in space equates to 10 times the annual exposure on Earth.
- Bones: Skeletal deformation and bone loss are likely with 1 percent of bone mass lost every month. Astronauts become taller because their spines expand while in orbit.
How does the body recover back on Earth?
Returning to Earth does not immediately undo months of strain on astronauts’ bodies. As their bodies readjust to gravity, they experience balance issues, dizziness and weakened cardiovascular function.
Even months after landing, not everything recovers. They face long-term health risks, including cancer, nerve damage and degenerative diseases.
- Arrival from space: The spine returns to normal size. Flatulence is no longer an issue, and blood pressure normalises.
- One week later: Motion sickness, disorientation and balance issues disappear. Sleep returns to normal.
- Two weeks later: The immune system recovers, and the body fluids lost are regained. The production of red blood cells returns to normal.
- One month later: Muscle reformation is almost complete and near pre-flight levels.
- Three months later: Skin redevelopment is complete. Body mass returns to Earth levels, and problems with eyesight no longer exist.
- Six months later: The risk of bone fractures remains as well as an increased risk of cancer. Ninety-three percent of genes return to normal, but 7 percent remain disrupted.
World
Investors brace for a bigger backlash from Middle East war
World
Tel Aviv analyst shelters from 30 missile sirens in 48 hours, says Iran ‘won’t recover’
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The past 48 hours in Tel Aviv have been unlike anything seen before, a leading security analyst has said, as sirens blared amid missile threats following Operation Epic Fury and U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran.
“We are facing a biblical event — nothing less,” Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies and the Misgav Institute, told Fox News Digital, speaking from his shelter in the city.
Like many Israelis, Michael said he had spent hours in reinforced rooms during the ongoing barrage, adding that he was “very experienced in this.”
“But this all requires time and determination, and I do hope that Trump will also have them both,” he said, speaking shortly after the president released a video message stating that the military operation would continue “until all of our objectives are achieved.”
Explosions from projectile interceptions by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system over Tel Aviv. (JACK GUEZ / AFP via Getty Images)
“Trump is the only one who can make the change — and that change will impact the entire region and the international order for years to come,” Michael added.
As of Sunday, Tel Aviv remained under a state of emergency following Iranian missile attacks that caused casualties and widespread damage.
According to The Associated Press, Iranian missile and drone strikes have killed approximately 11 Israeli civilians and wounded dozens more in retaliation for the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran.
Shrapnel from missile impacts damaged at least 40 buildings in Tel Aviv, and authorities reported at least one death in the area from falling debris.
The Philippine Embassy in Israel confirmed the death of a Filipino national after a missile strike hit Tel Aviv on Saturday.
TOMAHAWKS, B-2 STEALTH BOMBERS AND ATTACK DRONES POUND OVER 1,000 IRANIAN TARGETS IN 24-HOUR BLITZ
People take shelter as Iran launched missiles and drones towards Israel following the US-Israeli attacks. ( Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“We enter our shelter once the siren is heard and stay there until the Home Front Command announces that we can leave,” Michael said.
“Usually, it is about 20 to 30 minutes — unless there are further sirens during our stay. Since yesterday morning, it has happened around 30 times.”
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog also visited an impact site in Tel Aviv Sunday, delivering a message of resilience.
“The people of Israel and the people of Iran can live in peace. The region can live in peace. But what undermines peace time and again is terror instigated by this Iranian regime,” Herzog said.
EXILED IRANIAN CROWN PRINCE SAYS US STRIKES MARK ‘BEGINNING OF THE VERY END’ FOR REGIME
Israeli emergency service officer walks past building debris at the scene of a Iranian missile attack. (Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP via Getty Images)
Following the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and roughly 40 senior Iranian officials, Iran formed a provisional leadership council.
Iran named Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, President Masoud Pezeshkian and Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i to lead roles.
“The Supreme Leader did not complete the necessary groundwork regarding his own succession,” Michael added.
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“Pezeshkian will face very troubling challenges due to their heavy losses, severe disruptions to control and command systems, and the massive bombing and attacks across Iran, including Tehran,” he said.
“Even if this regime doesn’t collapse, it will never be able to reconstitute itself, recover or return to its previous position,” Michael added.
World
Israel FM says Europe too divided, slams Spanish PM
Israeli minister Gideon Sa’ar said Europe “does not have unified position” on what role it should play in Iran as European ministers sought to establish a joint approach Sunday.
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As Israel and the United States conducted a joint military strike on Iran, leading to the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Europe was kept on the sidelines.
EU member states did not participate in the operation and, in some cases, they were not informed prior as it is customary among strategic allies.
Asked whether Israel sought to keep Europe on the margins, Sa’ar said internal divisions within EU member states had kept them out of critical exchanges of operational details, unlike the United States, which the minister described as his country’s greatest ally.
“In Europe, you have all kinds of approaches,” he told Euronews. “You have countries like the Czech Republic which is strongly supporting this operation and then you have Spain, which is standing with all the tyrants of the world.”
On Saturday, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez was among the most critical voices in Europe, suggesting the US-Israeli strikes on Iran risk plunging the region into total war.
“We reject the unilateral military action of the United States and Israel, which represents an escalation and contributes to a more uncertain and hostile international order,” Sánchez said Saturday. The Spanish PM reiterated that message on Sunday.
“We urge for de-escalation and call to respect international law in all conflicts,” Sánchez added. “You can be against a heinous regime, like the Iranian regime, while also rejecting a military intervention that is unjustified, dangerous and outside of international law.”
Sa’aar said Israel considers the operation “fully justified” citing the right to self-defense from a regime that “has called for the destruction of Israel” and lashed at the Spanish prime minister for sending an “anti-Israeli, anti-American message.”
“Read the statement, they are standing with Iran!” he added.
When asked if any of his European counterparts had manifested an interest in joining the military operation or provide support on the ground, Sa’ar said he held multiple exchanges with European ministers over the weekend and suggested that “if others want to join, they will know have to convey the message.”
On Sunday, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen appeared to back regime change in Iran in line with Israel and the US, saying that the “risk of further escalation is real. This is why a credible transition in Iran is urgently needed” in comments on Sunday.
Sa’ar told Euronews said the strategic strikes and the elimination of Khamenei alongside top regime commanders could “create the conditions to weaken the regime enough to allow the Iranians to take their future into their own hands”.
“The future leadership of Iran should be determined by the Iranian people through free elections. Our only requirement is that whoever comes to power in Iran must not pursue the destruction of Israel,” he said.
Watch the full interview on Euronews from 8pm CET
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