How and why will NASA astronaut Sunita Williams get "baby feet" after arriving on Earth?

Finally, Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams will be back. Mid-March is when they are expected to return home after spending over 10 months in space. But acclimating to Earth's gravity won't be simple.

Former NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao discussed the difficulties. "Baby feet" strikes astronauts after extended space travel, he claimed. This occurs as a result of foot calluses disappearing when one is weightless. "You basically lose the thick part of your skin," Chiao stated.

Dizziness and nausea are typical, in addition to soft feet. The encounter reminded astronaut Terry Virts of the flu. "I felt really heavy and really, really dizzy," stated the man. When the body returns from space, it takes weeks to acclimate.

Why Did They Not Return Immediately?

Originally, Wilmore and Williams had an eight-day assignment. But their Boeing Starliner spaceship had problems. They thus stayed on board the International Space Station. There were worries regarding their health because of their prolonged stay.

The delay provoked political discussion as well. Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump said the Biden administration was to blame. According to them, NASA did not move quickly enough to bring them back.

Finally, there is a plan for returning. Crew-9 is scheduled to launch on March 12th, according to NASA. They will then return home on the SpaceX Dragon capsule with Williams and Wilmore. The trip back is planned for March 16.