Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
Following their Earth re-entry on October 25, four crew members were mysteriously rushed to the hospital, with NASA remaining eerily silent about the details.
Among the crew, one astronaut stayed overnight "for observation," sparking questions about what exactly happened during the splashdown recovery.
At a live briefing, NASA dodged queries about the incident. Astronaut Michael Barratt hinted at unknowns in spaceflight: “We’re still piecing things together on this.”
Describing the hospitalization as a "medical event," Barratt promised details “in the fullness of time,” adding an air of suspense to the unusual secrecy.
A source suggested to DailyMail.com that "blood pressure issues" could be at fault, possibly linked to the effects of re-entering Earth’s gravity after prolonged spaceflight.
Returning astronauts often experience orthostatic hypotension—a drop in blood pressure caused by sudden blood flow changes due to Earth's gravity, leading to dizziness and fainting.
This crew endured a lengthy 235-day stay on the ISS, with plans disrupted by Boeing’s crew capsule issues and Hurricane Milton, stretching their time in microgravity.
During an advisory panel, former astronaut Kent Rominger emphasized the importance of vigilance in Dragon spacecraft operations, citing “recent issues” with SpaceX’s Falcon 9.
Credit: Wikimedia commons
Despite speculation around the health incident, NASA’s strict stance on privacy leaves this “medical event” shrouded in mystery, fueling further intrigue around their health.