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Swollen eyeballs, baby-like skin, and the overview effect: how astronauts feel when they return to earth
- NASA and SpaceX are launching a mission to retrieve astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Suni Williams after a prolonged stay at the International Space Station.
- Extended periods in space lead to bone density loss, muscle wasting, blood volume reduction, changed blood flow, and fluid build-up in astronauts' heads.
- Returning astronauts may feel like they've kicked a nine-month cold, struggle to walk, experience dizziness, and have weakened vision.
- Astronauts may need glasses for life due to changes in eyeball shape and vision after space missions.
- Reconditioning after space travel is akin to intense physiotherapy; it is tiring and aims to strike a balance between strength and fatigue.
- Extended space stays expose astronauts to radiation, increasing cancer risks, with challenges in protecting against radiation during longer missions.
- Astronauts may experience 'the overview effect' - a deep sense of connection to humanity and Earth after seeing it from space, leading to mixed feelings upon return.
- Anxiety, depression, and challenges adapting to normal life on Earth are common post-space travel.
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