Obnews Science Desk: American astronaut Sunita “Sunita” Williams and Barry “Buch” Wilmore visited Space on 5 June 2024 from Boeing Starlineer Calipso. He was to spend only eight days at the International Space Station (ISS), but when his vehicle reached close to the station, his thruster failed. Due to this, NASA instructed both astronauts to stay on ISS itself.

The mission lasted for a full 288 days i.e. nine months, which included Williams and Villmore NASA's longest single mission to join the astronauts.

The record for spending the most time in space

ISS is located at an altitude of 354 km from the Earth, while the average distance of Mars is 225 million km. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio spent more than a year on ISS for the longest period.

At the same time, the record for the longest single space flight is named after the Russian astronaut Valerie Polayakov, who spent 437 days at the Mir Space Station.

SpaceX Crew-9 Mission Return

SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft separated from ISS at 05:05 GMT on March 18 and successfully landed in the ocean on the coast of Florida at around 21:57 GMT (local time).

Russia's Rososmos astronaut Alexander Gorbunov with Williams and Wilmore also returned to Earth. NASA also gave live coverage of this historic return.

Life and body effects in space

Staying in zero gravity for months has serious effects on the body. The bones become weak, muscles shrink, and the body's fluids become unbalanced.

• Muscles: In the absence of gravity, muscles are not used, causing them to shrink.
• bones: The density of 1% bones in space decreases every month.
• Eyes: Microgravity affects vision and radiation can increase the risk of cataract.
• DNA change: After returning to Earth, 93% genes become normal, but 7% change permanently.
• Heart and blood circulation: Blood circulation slows down, causing heart problems.

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Body recovery after returning to earth

It takes time for the body to adapt to gravity as soon as he returns from space.

• First week: The problem of balance and dizziness ends.
• Two weeks later: The immune system becomes normal, and the body's liquid balance is restored.
• three months later: The condition of the skin and muscles becomes almost normal.
• six months later: There is a risk of bone fractures and there is a possibility of serious diseases like cancer.