Two American Astronauts Finally Return to Earth After Nine Months on the ISS

After more than nine months stuck in the International Space Station, two American astronauts returned to Earth on Tuesday, marking the end of a space saga that captivated the world.

After a seventeen-hour journey, the SpaceX craft carrying them landed smoothly off the coast of Florida, slowed by four powerful parachutes.

American astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were joined on their return journey by another American astronaut, Nick Hague, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

All four were welcomed by a pod of dolphins that quickly surrounded the capsule floating in the clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico, recently renamed Gulf of America by the Trump administration.

"What an adventure!" exclaimed Nick Hague via radio, who was at the helm of the spacecraft, describing the "big smiles" of his companions.

The Crew Dragon vehicle was then extracted from the water, and its four passengers were gently removed and placed on stretchers, where they waved enthusiastically at the cameras. After an initial medical examination, they will be flown to Houston, Texas, where they will undergo a program to readjust to Earth's gravity.

"Promise kept"

Originally launched last June for an eight-day mission, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams saw their stay in space extended after failures were detected on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft that was supposed to bring them back.

These technical issues led NASA to decide in the summer to return the vehicle empty and entrust their return to Elon Musk's SpaceX, a setback for Boeing.

This journey garnered public sympathy, but also more recently increased political attention. American President Donald Trump accused his predecessor Joe Biden of having "abandoned" the two unfortunate astronauts on purpose.

An accusation supported by his now great ally Elon Musk, who claimed he could have brought them back long ago, without providing details. These comments sparked outrage in the space community.

The Republican had committed to "rescue" them. A "promise kept," reacted the White House on Tuesday: the two astronauts "docked safely in the Gulf of America, thanks to Elon Musk," it celebrated on social media.

What Happens to the Human Body in Space?

Osteoporosis and muscle wasting, exposure to radiation, vision impairment: these are just a few of the risks astronauts face on long-duration missions in space, not to mention the psychological impact of isolation.

While American astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams spent nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), some of the health risks they encountered are well documented and managed, while others remain mysterious.

These dangers will increase as humanity ventures deeper into the solar system, potentially to Mars.

Exercise is Key

Despite the international attention their mission received, Mr. Wilmore and Ms. Williams’ nine-month stay is considered "standard," says Rihana Bokhari, an assistant professor at the Baylor College of Medicine's space medicine center.

ISS missions typically last six months, but some astronauts stay up to a year, and NASA estimates it has developed effective practices over the decades to maintain astronaut health.

In the absence of gravity, astronauts use three exercise machines on the ISS, including a resistance device that simulates weights using vacuum tubes and cables. A daily two-hour workout keeps them fit.

"The best evidence of effectiveness is that we really don't have fracture problems among astronauts when they return to Earth," although bone loss is still detectable in scans, Ms. Bokhari told AFP.

Balance issues are another concern, adds Emmanuel Urquieta, a professor of aerospace medicine at the University of Central Florida.

"This happens to every astronaut, even those who go to space for just a few days," he told AFP, and they need to restore all functions of their inner ear. Upon their return to Earth, astronauts undergo a body retraining process for 45 days.

Another challenge is the "fluid shift"—the redistribution of body fluids towards the head in a microgravity environment.

This can increase calcium levels in urine and heighten the risk of kidney stones. Fluid shifts can also elevate intracranial pressure, change the shape of the eyeball, and cause Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS), which leads to mild to moderate vision impairment.

However, another hypothesis suggests that high carbon dioxide levels may be to blame. Nevertheless, in at least one case, the effects were beneficial.

"I had a rather severe case of SANS," reported American astronaut Jessica Meir before her last launch.

"When I launched, I wore glasses and contact lenses, but due to the flattening of the eyeball, I now have above-average vision. Thanks to the taxpayers!"

Radiation

Radiation levels aboard the ISS are higher than on Earth, but Earth's magnetic field still provides significant protection.

Shielding is crucial, and NASA aims to limit astronauts' increased cancer risk to less than 3%. However, missions to the Moon and Mars will expose them to higher radiation and thus more risk, explains astrophysicist Siegfried Eggl.

Future space probes could provide early warnings of high-radiation events, such as coronal mass ejections—plasma clouds from the Sun—but cosmic radiation remains unpredictable.

"Shielding is best done with heavy materials like lead or water, but large quantities are needed," explains Eggl from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Artificial gravity, created by rotating spacecraft structures, could help astronauts remain functional upon arrival after a nine-month journey to Mars.

Another option: a spacecraft could use powerful acceleration and deceleration corresponding to Earth's gravitational force.

This approach would be faster, reduce radiation exposure risks, but requires nuclear propulsion technologies that do not yet exist.

Finally, preventing internal conflicts within teams will be critical, points out Joseph Keebler, a psychologist at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: "Imagine being stuck in a van with anyone for three years: these vessels are not that big, and there is no privacy."

"I have a lot of respect for astronauts. It's unimaginable work."