The returning astronauts: what effects life in space had on their bodies

Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore returned to Earth on Tuesday after spending nine months in space. The two were stranded on the International Space Station after their Boeing spaceship malfunctioned and they had to wait for another spaceship to become available to bring them home. Nine months in space isn’t a record by any means, but it’s long enough that Williams and Wilmore likely saw some changes to their bodies during their time on the ISS.

… Body fluids shift upward since there’s nothing to force blood and other bodily fluids toward your feet. This fluid shifting from legs to head in a year could fill a 2-liter bottle.

… Face becomes puffier due to less gravity causing liquids to move toward and into the head.

… Vision might worsen from pressure changes in the brain as fluids near the optic nerve can push on the back of the eyeball.

… Bone density decreases by about 12 percent in a year without exercise, as bone breakdown outpaces growth in microgravity.

… Height temporarily increases by about 3 percent as gravity isn’t compressing the fluid-filled discs between vertebrae in the spine.

… Muscles shrink and atrophy without the constant strain of Earth’s gravity, despite regular exercise in space.

… Sleep quality decreases with most astronauts only getting about 6 hours of sleep per night because sleeping in space feels weird.

… Cancer risk increases due to greater radiation exposure outside Earth’s protective magnetic field.

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