Space Medicine and the Return to Earth

[MolaKule]

Williams and Wilmore return to Earth and the effects of reaclimation. About a 10-minute read but interesting.

https://www.salon.com/2025/03/15/na...res-what-that-time-in-space-does-to-the-body/

 

[GON]

Williams and Wilmore return to Earth and the effects of reaclimation. About a 10-minute read but interesting.

https://www.salon.com/2025/03/15/na...res-what-that-time-in-space-does-to-the-body/

Thanks for posting the story- interesting read for sure.

Question, one of many- after nine unplanned months in space, are the BFFs- or will they be grateful to get some alone time?

 

[loneryder]

Thanks for posting the story- interesting read for sure.

Question, one of many- after nine unplanned months in space, are the BFFs- or will they be grateful to get some alone time?

BFFs with benefits?

 

[MolaKule]

Thanks for posting the story- interesting read for sure.

Question, one of many- after nine unplanned months in space, are the BFFs- or will they be grateful to get some alone time?

I am not sure what BFF's means here, but having read that both astronauts are close to their families, I would surmise they would want to spend as much time with their families as possible.

My concern is the osteoporosis-like symptoms that result from long-term space travel. Muscle atrophy can be overcome by daily exercise.

We can shield against many types of radiation, but the human physique seems to be designed to deal with gravity.

I am still of the opinion that some means of artificial gravity will be needed for long-term space travel, such as a rotating cylinder or ring. However, this means the rotating structure will have to be designed to endure the added loads imposed by this rotation, meaning added weight.

"...The few observations conducted on humans in space suggest a centrifugal force of 0.3 perceived as artificial gravity by the crewmembers. In these instances, the artificial gravity exposure was limited to a few minutes while subjects were retrained from moving their head or body. Research conducted in slow rotating rooms on Earth has concluded that humans can adapt and live for extended periods of time (u days) to rotation rate as high as 10 rpm. Adaptation to continuous rotation has also been achieved with a shorter exposure duration and higher rotation rates (up to 23 rpm) by using short-radius centrifugation in which subjects are supine and only able to perform head movements..."

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20070001009/downloads/20070001009.pdf

 

[Astro14]

BFFs with benefits?

Absolutely zero chance of that.

I have known Butch personally, since 1986.

Even as a joke, it’s not funny.

 

[spasm3]

I understood BFF to mean best friends forever. I.E. having that 9 months in orbit in a close environment fostering a lasting close friendship.

 

[Pew]

I understood BFF to mean best friends forever. I.E. having that 9 months in orbit in a close environment fostering a lasting close friendship.

It might be that 'with benefits' part.

I'd tell my BFF that I don't wanna see him for the next 9 months if we were stuck together for 9 months. Then after 9 months and 1 day, go out for ramen or pancakes.

 

[Astro14]

I understood BFF to mean best friends forever. I.E. having that 9 months in orbit in a close environment fostering a lasting close friendship.

I’ll ask him next time I see him, but I expect that he has a great deal of respect and admiration for, along with a strong friendship with, Sunny.

However, I was objecting to the “with benefits“ part of the post.

I assure you, there is zero chance of that.

 

[GON]

Absolutely zero chance of that.

I have known Butch personally, since 1986.

Even as a joke, it’s not funny.

Maybe I misinterpret BFF.

BFF "Best Friends Forever".

Google search definition:
Bff is an initialism of the phrase best friends forever. Bff has evolved into a noun that refers to a close friend.

Didn't see a joke in that. Together for many months in a tiny, confined space. No real other companionship. Do you become lifelong friends, or after a while does this involuntary 24x7 closeness cause frictions that are challenging.

 

[Astro14]

I was not referring to your comment, I was, and I want to make this clear, referring to the “with benefits“ part that implies an inappropriate relationship

 

[WeyounDS9]

With that long of a stay and their lack of youth, they may never be the same again.

 

[GON]

With that long of a stay and their lack of youth, they may never be the same again.

That is a great point, outside of physical changes to the body. What are the psychological impacts of this mission?

 

[Astro14]

That is a great point, outside of physical changes to the body. What are the psychological impacts of this mission?

There is no more resilient, positive, and mentally strong human being on this planet than Barry Eugene Wilmore.

Trust me when I say this.

 

[BHopkins]

When I read the article, I drew a comparison between the effects of long-term space travel, and the effects upon mountain climbers that climb Mt. Everest. There seems to be no question that both astronauts and mountain climbers share a very similar motivation. Even though they realize that there could likely be lifetime health consequences, the experience is so fantastic, that they are willing to live with the consequences.

 

[MolaKule]

Together for many months in a tiny, confined space. No real other companionship. Do you become lifelong friends, or after a while does this involuntary 24x7 closeness cause frictions that are challenging.

My understanding is that there were other astronauts already on the Space Station from Crew #X doing experiments when Williams and Wilmore arrived, so they were not alone.

See 0.05 of this video:

https://www.bing.com/videos/rivervi...id=72C17DB38478418B87DFFCE1662F9758&FORM=VIRE

 

[MolaKule]

...What are the psychological impacts of this mission?

NASA screens astronauts for both physical toughness and psychological stability, so I don't think anyone is going to go "gaga" over an extended space stay.

 

[Shannow]

I'm less concerned about benefits than I am about centrifugal...but that's just me.

 

[Astro14]

I'm less concerned about benefits than I am about centrifugal...but that's just me.

Oh my…let’s not go down that road again!

 

[slackinoff]

Williams and Wilmore return to Earth and the effects of reaclimation. About a 10-minute read but interesting.

https://www.salon.com/2025/03/15/na...res-what-that-time-in-space-does-to-the-body/

Thank you for posting that - My mom became interested in this story and about what happens on an extended stay. She will enjoy that link.

I followed Scott Kelly during his year long mission. As it was going on, NASA had a thing that allowed you to keep up with him.... I forget what it was called but it was cool. It felt like you were on the mission with him in a way. Plus I am a twin (have a sister tho so, not the same, at all... lol).

After he got home he wrote a book about it. It's a great read.

Amazon link - Scott Kelly - "Endurance"