NASA Astronauts Return After 9-Month Mission, Face Health Challenges

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore have returned to Earth after spending 290 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS), significantly longer than their planned week-long mission due to issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. The extended time in space has raised concerns about physical and mental health challenges, including fluid retention, muscle atrophy, and potential long-term radiation exposure risks. Both astronauts have faced personal sacrifices, missing important family events during their unplanned ordeal. Their families expressed the emotional toll of separation, with Wilmore's wife noting the difficulty of missing milestone celebrations. As they adjust back to life on Earth, experts warn of the complex transition from microgravity to terrestrial living, highlighting the need for careful monitoring of their health post-return. This mission marks a significant point in astronaut endurance, as Williams and Wilmore set the record for the longest unplanned spaceflight among U.S. astronauts.