Countdown begins for Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore's return to Earth: Here's what happens to the body in deep space

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are all set to return to Earth after spending nine months aboard the International Space Station ISS for a mission that was supposed to last just eight daysSpending a considerable amount of time in space can pose several health risks some of which were welldocumented as the two astronauts navigated these challengesBone and muscle deterioration radiation exposure vision impairment mdashthese are just a few of the challenges space travellers face on longduration missions even before considering the psychological toll of isolationIn a previous interaction with middaycom Dr Atul Narayankar Consultant Medical Oncologist Wockhardt Hospitals Mira Road had highlighted how different elements in space can affect health saying ldquoWhen travelling outside Earths protective atmosphere astronauts are exposed to cosmic rays and solar energetic particles which can put them at a greater risk of cancer and damage to vital organs over time and even impact their neurocognitive functionsrdquoAlso ReadAstronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore stuck in space How can it affect their health Experts explainFurther explaining the changes onersquos body undergoes in space he had said ldquoOnersquos muscles and bones tend to become weaker causing distress The fluids present in the body such as blood start to shift upward towards the brain which can cause several lifethreatening complications This includes complications like decreased blood pressure increased heart rate dizziness fluctuation in body temperatures dehydration swelling of the face shock respiratory distress weakness changes in vision and sleep apneardquoAs space technology advances therersquos a need to create innovative solutions to safeguard the health of astronauts and the future of space explorationExercise keyDespite the attention their mission has received Williams and Wilmorersquos ninemonth stay is par for the course Rihana Bokhari an assistant professor at the Center for Space Medicine at Baylor College told AFPISS missions typically last six months but some astronauts stay up to a year and researchers are confident in their ability to maintain astronaut health for that durationMost people know that lifting weights builds muscle and strengthens bones but even basic movement on Earth resists gravity an element missing in orbit To counteract this astronauts use three exercise machines on the ISS including a 2009installed resistance device that simulates free weights using vacuum tubes and flywheel cables reported AFPA twohour daily workout keeps them in shape The best results that we have to show that were being very effective is that we dont really have a fracture problem in astronauts when they return to the ground though bone loss is still detectable on scans Bokhari further saidOther health challengesApart from this balance disruption can also be an issue This happens to every single astronaut even those who go into space just for a few days as they work to rebuild trust in their inner ear Emmanuel Urquieta vice chair of Aerospace Medicine at the University of Central Florida told AFPAnother challenge is fluid shift the redistribution of bodily fluids toward the head in microgravity This can cause various health issues including vision impairmentDr Smit M Bavariya Cataract Surgeon at Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital Wadala in a previous interaction with middaycom had stated ldquoSpaceflight Associated Neuroocular Syndrome SANS is a condition which involves changes in vision including blurred vision difficulty focusing and changes in the shape of the eye It is caused by increased intracranial pressure which results from fluid shift in microgravity and affects the optic nerve and the eyes structurerdquoManaging radiationRadiation levels aboard the ISS are higher than on the ground as it passes through the Van Allen radiation belt but Earths magnetic field still provides significant protectionThe shielding is crucial as NASA aims to limit astronauts increased lifetime cancer risk to within three percent However missions to the Moon and Mars will give astronauts far greater exposure explained astrophysicist Siegfried EgglShielding is best done with heavy materials like lead or water but you need vast quantities of it Eggl told AFPArtificial gravity created by rotating spacecraft frames could help astronauts stay functional upon arrival after a ninemonth journey to Mars Alternatively a spacecraft could use powerful acceleration and deceleration that matches the force of Earths gravity That approach would be speedier reducing radiation exposure risks but requires nuclear propulsion technologies that dont yet exist reported AFPWith inputs from AFP