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Austrian Astronauts Stuck in Space Finally Return—But at What Cost to Their Health?
After an unexpected nine month ordeal in space, two astronauts, originally launched for a brief mission, touched down on Earth this week, splashing into the Gulf of Mexico aboard a SpaceX capsule. The duo, who embarked on their journey in June 2024 expecting a quick 10 day trip to the International Space Station (ISS), faced a dramatic extension when their Boeing Starliner spacecraft malfunctioned, leaving them stranded in orbit. Now back on solid ground, experts warn their health may have paid a steep price for the cosmic delay.
The astronauts, whose mission ballooned to 286 days, orbited Earth over 4,500 times, clocking 121 million miles. While NASA insists they were never "stranded", just adapting to technical hiccups, their extended stay in microgravity raises red flags.
Prolonged weightlessness is notorious for wreaking havoc on the human body: bones lose density at an alarming rate, muscles atrophy, and hearts weaken from not pumping against gravity. Add in increased radiation exposure, equivalent to eight chest X rays a day and the risks pile up fast.
Upon landing near Tallahassee, Florida, on March 18, 2025, the pair emerged smiling, giving thumbs up to cameras. But behind the grins, they were whisked onto stretchers, a standard precaution after long missions, as dizziness and nausea often hit hard when gravity kicks back in. Experts predict they will face weeks, if not months, of rehab to rebuild muscle and bone strength. Vision changes, like swelling at the back of the eyes, could linger too, with 70% of long term astronauts reporting such issues after six months aloft.
NASA’s gearing up for intense medical tests, blood, urine, cognitive checks to unpack how nine months in orbit reshaped their bodies. The data could unlock clues for future missions, but for now, the focus is on recovery. As they readjust to Earth’s pull, their story is a stark reminder: space is no vacation, and every extra day up there comes with a hidden toll.
After an unexpected nine month ordeal in space, two astronauts, originally launched for a brief mission, touched down on Earth this week, splashing into the Gulf of Mexico aboard a SpaceX capsule. The duo, who embarked on their journey in June 2024 expecting a quick 10 day trip to the International Space Station (ISS), faced a dramatic extension when their Boeing Starliner spacecraft malfunctioned, leaving them stranded in orbit. Now back on solid ground, experts warn their health may have paid a steep price for the cosmic delay.
The astronauts, whose mission ballooned to 286 days, orbited Earth over 4,500 times, clocking 121 million miles. While NASA insists they were never "stranded", just adapting to technical hiccups, their extended stay in microgravity raises red flags.
Prolonged weightlessness is notorious for wreaking havoc on the human body: bones lose density at an alarming rate, muscles atrophy, and hearts weaken from not pumping against gravity. Add in increased radiation exposure, equivalent to eight chest X rays a day and the risks pile up fast.
Upon landing near Tallahassee, Florida, on March 18, 2025, the pair emerged smiling, giving thumbs up to cameras. But behind the grins, they were whisked onto stretchers, a standard precaution after long missions, as dizziness and nausea often hit hard when gravity kicks back in. Experts predict they will face weeks, if not months, of rehab to rebuild muscle and bone strength. Vision changes, like swelling at the back of the eyes, could linger too, with 70% of long term astronauts reporting such issues after six months aloft.
NASA’s gearing up for intense medical tests, blood, urine, cognitive checks to unpack how nine months in orbit reshaped their bodies. The data could unlock clues for future missions, but for now, the focus is on recovery. As they readjust to Earth’s pull, their story is a stark reminder: space is no vacation, and every extra day up there comes with a hidden toll.
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