'Cancer risk, brain damage, too weak to walk': Sunita Williams’ body 'wrecked' after 9 months in orbit
Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Stranded Strength
After nine months in space, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will be too weak to walk. Space travel rewires the body, and their recovery could take months.
Gravity’s Toll
Astronauts lose up to 20% of their muscle mass in just five days of low gravity. Even two hours of daily exercise in space can’t stop their bodies from deteriorating.
Bone-Breaking Reality
Space missions leave astronauts with weaker bones, making fractures and osteoporosis real dangers. Some never fully regain their original bone density.
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Heart Under Pressure
Low gravity tricks the heart into working less, weakening blood vessels and reducing blood volume. The return to Earth can leave astronauts lightheaded and at risk of collapse.
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Radiation Risks
Nine months in space equals years of radiation exposure on Earth. NASA warns that increased cancer risks, brain damage, and heart disease could follow Williams and Wilmore home.
Mind Over Mission
Months of isolation, uncertainty, and danger take a toll. Psychiatrist Dr. Carole Lieberman suggests the astronauts may struggle with hidden resentment and trauma after their ordeal.
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Back to Basics
Williams and Wilmore must relearn simple tasks—walking, balancing, and even standing—before they can rebuild their strength. Their first steps back on Earth won’t be easy.
Extreme Rehab
NASA’s 45-day rehab program involves strength training, heart conditioning, and bone-loading exercises requiring force equal to 4.2 times body weight—more than a world-record squat.
Space’s Silent Cost
Even with intense rehabilitation, some astronauts never fully recover. Their mission pushed the boundaries of human endurance—but at what long-term price?