Back in town, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to undergo a 45-day rehab; bone therapy, strength training on the agenda

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have finally returned back to Earth on Wednesday (India time) after their long stay for over 9 months at the International Space Station (ISS). The duo has safely made the touchdown off the Florida coast near Tallahassee.

The astronauts had to spend about nine months at the ISS due to some technical malfunctions, and they were forced to spend 286 days aboard. However, fortunately, the duo have now safely returned back to Earth in a joint mission by tech billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX Dragon and NASA.

Splashdown confirmed! #Crew9 is now back on Earth in their @SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. pic.twitter.com/G5tVyqFbAu

¡ª NASA (@NASA) March 18, 2025

Amid their return journey to Earth, there have been discussions about the health of the astronauts and how their bodies will react once they touch down on Earth.

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will undergo a 45-day rehabilitation

Science is a fascinating realm where curiosity meets discovery, and as we are fortunate to witness this live, many wonder how their bodies will react once the astronauts are back on Earth. But what's next for Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore?

According to NASA, the astronauts are expected to undergo an extensive rehabilitation programme which is planned to be scheduled for two hours a day.

Moreover, an ideal time duration for astronauts to return to their normal fitness level is 45 days, but it depends on body-to-body type. For some, it may take months or years to recover completely.

From baby feet to dizziness, astronauts may experience some health issues

As per earlier research by NASA, the astronauts tend to face multiple health problems, from baby feet to dizziness, nausea, bone loss and more. The major reason behind this is believed to be the long stay for months in microgravity or 'zero-G'.

Credit: X

In an attempt to fix these problems, medical procedures will be conducted for the astronauts. As per NASA, the four astronauts of the Crew-9 mission will undergo various medical procedures before the rehabilitation programmes begin.

Rehabilitation programme includes physical training for astronauts

To overcome or fix the health issues faced by the astronauts, the duo will undergo a reconditioning program which helps to improve the physical health of the astronauts.

The Astronaut Strength, Conditioning and Rehabilitation (ASCR) will begin on the landing day as per the schedule, and it will continue for the next 45 days.

LIVE: Leaders from NASA and @SpaceX are sharing the latest updates following #Crew9's safe return to Earth earlier this evening. https://t.co/32N0dZfaEO

¡ª NASA (@NASA) March 18, 2025

Here's a list of fitness training that the rehabilitation programme is going to include:

• Strength exercise: The strength exercises will focus on rebuilding the lost muscle mass and astronauts performing resistance training focusing on the legs and core muscles of the body.
• Heart health: Cardiovascular health is extremely important to be taken care of, and for this, the programme includes aerobic exercises like cycling or treadmill running.
• Bone recovery therapy: It is a specialised therapy that helps to fight bone loss and prevent fractures.
• Balance training: Balance training is considered one of the most crucial aspects of the rehabilitation programme, as it helps the vestibular system to adapt.

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