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Topics: International Space Station, NASA, Space, Health, Mental Health
A doctor has reflected on how astronaut Sunita Williams is recovering from her extended time in space as she and Butch have their first interview back on Earth.
If you have somehow missed the most talked about NASA story in years, Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams, 59, and Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore, 61 ended up being stranded in space on the International Space Station.
The pair ended up being in space for a total of 286 days, which isn’t the longest time anyone has stayed in space but the most interesting aspect of their misfortune is the two astronauts were only meant to be up there for 8 days.
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As you can imagine, many experts have weighed in on the many negative impacts extended time in space can have on the body.
When the pair did eventually come back to Earth (March 18), doctors warned they would have to undergo a lengthy rehabilitation program to get back up on their feet... quite literally.
Pulmonologist and Air Force veteran Vinay Gupta has reflected on how the pair appeared to be recovering as they have given their first interview since touching back down from the International Space Station.
Speaking to the Mail Online, Gupta commented on Williams’ appearance and said her face looked fuller and less sunken than the first images of her after landing.
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He said: “It looks like she just has gotten better sleep.
“She's back on level ground. Her metabolism is normalizing to sort of normal gravity.”
He also added that her body isn’t under the same stresses she and Butch would have been experienced while on the ISS.
He added: “She's probably just eating healthier and is able to sort of modulate and gain back some weight.
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“I think two weeks has probably been sufficient to look just healthier.
“I think the worst is probably well behind them,' the doctor explained.
“The second you're back on level ground, your body starts to heal and sort of re-equilibrate.”
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Williams also commented on this in her first interview, saying her recovery so far has been 'miraculous.'
Speaking to Fox News, she reflected on her initial reaction to being stranded.
She said: “My first thought was, we just got to pivot, right?
"I was like, ‘OK, let’s make the best of it.’ We planned, we trained that we’d be there for some part of a time, so we were ready to just jump into it and take on the tasks that were given to us."
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Which is definitely a less panicked reaction than most people would have.