Three NASA astronauts recently opened up about the difficult process of readjusting to life on Earth after spending over 230 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The astronauts, who returned to Earth on October 25 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, shared insights during a press conference about the physical challenges they faced after their extended mission.
Commanding astronaut Matthew Dominick, a first-time space traveler, described the strange experience of returning to gravity. “I expected the dizziness, but what surprised me was how uncomfortable sitting in a hard chair was. I hadn’t felt a hard surface in months,” Dominick explained. The astronauts are still recovering from the effects of microgravity, which has left them with weakened muscles and disorientation.
NASA astronauts Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps reflected on their physical challenges after returning to Earth, with Epps noting how the weight of everyday objects was unexpectedly overwhelming. “The heaviness of things just surprises you,” she shared, explaining how she has been spending much of her time lying down to relieve the strain.
The three astronauts, along with Russian cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, had been on the ISS since March 3 as part of Expedition 70. After landing off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, all crew members were taken to a nearby hospital as a precaution. NASA confirmed that one astronaut had experienced a medical issue and required overnight observation, but declined to release further details to maintain medical privacy.
This mission’s return was delayed due to scheduling issues related to Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft and adverse weather conditions. However, it marked another milestone for SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, which executed a successful splashdown following its mission to transport astronauts back to Earth.
While the Crew-8 astronauts’ journey back was a few weeks longer than planned, it wasn’t a record for extended space missions. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio holds the record for the longest U.S. space mission, having spent 371 days aboard the ISS.
As NASA and SpaceX continue their groundbreaking work in space exploration, the challenges faced by astronauts upon returning to Earth highlight the complexities of long-duration missions and the resilience of those who undertake them
