The American astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who extended their stay on the International Space Station due to Boeing’s Starliner capsule complications, have completed their return to Earth in March and finished physical therapy whilst increasing their involvement with Boeing and Nasa initiatives.“Right now, we’re just coming off of the rehab portion of our return,” Wilmore, 62, told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday. “Gravity stinks for a period, and that period varies for different people, but eventually you get over those neurovestibular balance type of issues.”The pair, who initially planned an eight-day Starliner test flight that extended to nine months in space, underwent a standard 45-day readjustment period to reacclimatise their muscles, balance and basic terrestrial functions.Whilst managing their increasing responsibilities with Boeing’s Starliner programme, Nasa’s space station division in Houston and agency researchers, the astronauts have dedicated minimum two hours daily with Nasa’s medical team for strength and conditioning.“It’s been a little bit of a whirlwind,” Williams, 59, said in the interview. “Because we also have obligations to all of the folks that we worked with.”Williams noted her post-spaceflight recovery was gradual, experiencing fatigue during later recovery stages as various muscles reactivated. This affected her early morning routine until recently.“Then I’m up at four in the morning, and I’m like, Aha! I’m back,” she said.Wilmore discussed his pre-flight neck and back difficulties, including limited head rotation. These issues disappeared in space’s weightless environment but returned upon landing.“We’re still floating in the capsule in the ocean, and my neck starts hurting, while we still hadn’t even been extracted yet,” he said, laughing.The human physique, developed through evolution on Earth, faces numerous challenges in space. Zero gravity causes various physical changes, including muscle deterioration and cardiovascular alterations. Additional factors like confined spaces and increased solar radiation contribute to health impacts.Regarding Starliner’s technical issues, Nasa had to return the capsule without crew and integrate the astronauts into regular ISS rotation. Boeing has incurred $2 billion in development charges, with Nasa considering another uncrewed flight before human missions resume.Williams supports another uncrewed flight, citing precedents set by SpaceX and Russian vessels. She stated, “I think that’s the correct path,” expressing hope for agreement between Boeing and Nasa soon.Nasa officials indicate that summer testing results will determine Starliner’s readiness for crewed missions.
