Media reports have highlighted the physical changes astronauts experience after spending extended periods in space.
Although space travel is risky, NASA ensures astronauts receive proper training to prepare for the challenges. Prolonged exposure to microgravity can severely impact bones, according to NASA.
The Baylor College of Medicine’s Space Medicine Center has noted that neurological effects can occur, altering the way the brain sends signals to internal organs. Vision changes, including Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS), have also been reported.
Additionally, astronauts may experience back pain, dental issues, and significant mental health challenges such as isolation, insomnia, anger, and difficulty with emotional regulation. To counter these effects, NASA incorporates exercise, language learning, and scientific experiments into astronauts’ routines.
Meanwhile, two astronauts who have been stranded on the space station for about 10 months are set to return to Earth soon. They originally embarked on an eight-day research mission but were delayed due to a technical fault in their return spacecraft.
NASA launched a rocket yesterday to bring them home. The astronauts, 58-year-old retired Navy officer Sunita Williams and 61-year-old Navy captain Butch Wilmore, remain in space as they await their return journey.
