Sunita Williams Returning to Earth: Coming home to Earth for Sunita Williams is not only a challenge but a perilous endeavor. Sunita Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore have remained stranded in space since June 2024. A spacecraft failure turned a 10-day mission on board Boeing’s Starliner into a long stay, and now NASA has announced that SpaceX’s Dragon capsule will leave next week to bring them back by March 16. The real challenge, however, begins for Sunita Williams after landing.
“It’s not easy to adjust to Earth after so many days in space. Walking here feels like walking on thorns. I’ve even forgotten how to walk,” are just some of the words by Sunita Williams which give a picture of the situation and the extent of damage space travel does.
The Hidden Dangers of Returning Home
Life in space is entirely different from that on Earth. With zero gravity, walking is not needed, and the body changes significantly. Faced with this reality, returnees have to undergo mind-boggling readjustments to Earth’s gravity. For Sunita Williams, it is weeks of recuperation as well as rehabilitation.
Risk of viruses and bacteria
But that’s not all. The astronauts face the possibility of infection by viruses and bacteria from space. There should be stringent quarantine and testing before allowing them to come home to ensure that they pose no threat to the ecosystem on Earth.
A Grueling Recovery Process
Not only will Sunita Williams land and head straight for home, but she will also undergo several medical tests and treatment. Doctors have pointed out that her body is considerably weaker than when she last entered space, and it may take her up to about six weeks in Earth’s gravity to regain her strength. Only after passing all medical evaluations will she be allowed to meet her family again.
Long-Term Health Risks
Space travel is heavy in the physical sense and hazardous to health. Cosmonauts are exposed to a heavy dose of cosmic radiations, which produce long-term effects, including the making of cancers. In addition, since the heart and lung work less in space, an adjustment period is needed for them to readjust to terrestrial conditions.
Experts agree that returning to Earth is as challenging as going into space. Thus, Sunita Williams will need to be placed in a specialized environment to help her body readjust. This includes physical therapy, medical monitoring, and emotional support to cope with the drastic environmental change.