Return to Earth: Astronaut Sunita Williams begins recovery
Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have returned to Earth after spending 288 days in space. Sunita Williams' appearance had long been a source of concern for doctors, and after giving an interview, one of them spoke out.
Upon her return from space, astronaut Sunita Williams attracted attention due to her physical appearance. After 288 days in space, Williams and her companion Butch Wilmore landed off the coast of Florida on 17 March. Dr Vinay Gupta, a pulmonologist and Air Force veteran, noted in the first interview following her return that Williams looks healthier. Dr Gupta mentioned that Williams' face appears "fuller," which could be attributed to better sleep and the return to normal gravitational conditions.
"She's back on level ground. Her metabolism is normalizing to sort of normal gravity," said Gupta, as quoted by the "Daily Mail."
He added that the astronaut has likely started eating more healthily, which has facilitated her weight regain. Photos taken immediately after her departure from the SpaceX Dragon capsule show Williams with grey hair, deeper wrinkles, and a noticeably emaciated face. Medical experts also observed her noticeably thinner wrists, suggesting she experienced rapid weight and muscle mass loss.
Health challenges after the mission
Dr Gupta emphasised that the return to Earth marks the beginning of the astronauts' physical regeneration. "The second you're back on level ground, your body starts to heal and sort of re-equilibrate," he explained. Although Williams returned with a head full of grey hair, she appeared with dyed black hair during her first interview post-return.
The mission undertaken by Williams and Wilmore was originally planned to last for eight days, but technical issues with the Starliner capsule extended their stay on the International Space Station to over nine months. During this period, Williams visibly lost weight, raising concerns worldwide. Dr Gupta suggested that Williams' condition in space might have been influenced by her diet.
Dr. Gupta explained that if Williams had been avoiding meat-based proteins, it might have contributed to her health problems during the nine months she spent in space.
The medic observed that Wilmore, the second astronaut in the interview, did not show similar changes in appearance, which may indicate differences in their diets. The health of both Williams and Wilmore is now under continuous specialist observation. However, Dr Gupta is confident that they have already overcome the most challenging moments.
