A doctor has disclosed that when two astronauts who have been trapped in space for more than nine months return to Earth, they will face a demanding rehabilitation procedure.

On June 5, 2024, Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore and Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams launched into space on a mission that was scheduled to last only eight days.

However, mechanical troubles with the spacecraft have extended their stay until 2025, with the two spending Christmas Day in space. It’s unclear if they were able to capture Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl up there, but it’s definitely on their radar.

Nine months later, the couple may finally plan a reunion with their family and friends, with the SpaceX vessel set to return on March 19 or March 20 (give NASA credit for putting a date on it, considering the mission’s history so far).

My first desire after nine months in space is to return to my bed, but astronauts won’t. Instead, they expect stretchers to transport them straight from the spaceship to a medical center.

Dr. Vinay Gupta, a pulmonologist and Air Force veteran, told the Daily Mail that the astronauts would likely require at least six weeks of rehabilitation to rebuild their strength, which will involve supervised exercise and a food regimen. The initial step of the recuperation procedure will focus on walking and muscular development, as astronauts, although supposedly exercising for two hours each day in space, are expected to lose bone density and muscle mass.

He stated, “The human body requires the Earth’s gravitational pull, and in the absence of it, many things do not operate properly. Walking in Earth’s gravity provides only a fraction of the exercise that we take for granted. Regardless of whether they execute everything correctly (which I know they do), you will undoubtedly witness a reduction in muscle mass and strength.

Dr. Gupta also expressed concern about the astronauts’ exposure to radiation and the potential of cancer.

He stated, “If I were their physician, I would consider a more aggressive method for cancer screening. We want to adopt a different strategy here, given their particular exposure history.”

Suni has stated that she has ‘been trying to recall what it’s like to walk,’ and President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have also addressed the continuing rescue preparations. The habilitation program will commence.

Hopefully, we’ll see Suni and Butch back on their own territory soon, and their recovery will go more easily than the mission.