NASA astronauts' symptoms after returning to earth: watch out for possible physical and mental problems

Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore finally came back to Earth after being stuck in space for 9 months. They were supposed to spend only a few days on the ISS while testing Boeing’s Starliner but issues with the spacecraft delayed their scheduled return.

The 288 days in total that they spent in space makes them two of the longest-serving NASA astronauts on a single mission in space. Such long stints off Earth can take a heavy toll on the human body and mind though.

Possible physical and mental problems of prolonged space missions

Being up in space, astronauts lack Earth’s gravity and the protection of its atmosphere and magnetic field provide from radiation. Looking down on our Blue Planet for an extended period of time without being able to come home, so to speak, can also result in what’s called “the overview effect.”

In outer space, astronauts are exposed to three different types of radiation according to NASA. These include particles trapped in the Earth’s magnetic field, solar energetic particles from the Sun and galactic cosmic rays. In the case of the latter, extended space missions could result in an increased risk of developing cancer and genetic mutations from exposure to cosmic radiation studies have found.

While space radiation may present a greater health risk, living in a microgravity environment can create a whole range of problems for astronauts. They include the following:

Additionally, just as the microgravity environment affects blood flow it also makes it harder for the body to drain fluids. This results in a series of problems for astronauts. On the one hand, “the brain becomes waterlogged,” Meng Law, professor and director of radiology, neuroscience at Monash University told The Guardian.

“Fluids build up in their heads, so they feel like they have a constant cold,” Alan Duffy, an astrophysicist at Swinburne University in Australia, told the outlet. While it also reduces the olfactory senses, he says that’s “probably a good thing… because it reeks up there.” The ISS has been operating for over 20 years continuously occupied but never ventilated.

The buildup of fluids also makes the eyeballs swell, changing their shape and causing even astronauts with perfect vision to use eyeglasses.

Astronauts will need time to recover

Suni and Butch can expect to have difficulty walking and get dizzy easily as their bodies readjust to Earth’s gravity. Putting on clothes may feel like “sandpaper” on their skin which will have an “almost baby-like sensitivity.” They will have to undergo intensive physiotherapy, the same as for someone who has woken up from a coma according to Duffy.

They may also experience anxiety and depression from having spent so much time in space. Getting back into the daily grind likewise can be difficult mentally for astronauts after being in such an inspirational environment explained astrophysicist at Australian National University Brad Tucker to The Guardian.

As well, they may experience what is called “the overview effect,” of constantly seeing the curvature of Earth, viewing our planet as a spaceship of its own kind says Duffy. This results in a sense of “incredible connection to humanity” along with “an immediate sense of its fragility,” according to some astronauts who have reported experiencing it.

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