It will have an immense lasting negative impact on their health, but at least they seem to be on the road home.
NASA's stranded astronauts will face a long road to recovery after spending more than nine months in space. Doctors told DailyMail.com that Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will not be able to walk on their own when they return to Earth this month due to living in low gravity. When the crew emerges from the SpaceX capsule on either March 19 or 20, they will be immediately placed on stretches and immediately taken for medical evaluations.
They never undertook a proper conditioning for such a very long term in space. This requires different routines and in many ways is reminiscent of ascending to K-2 or any other Death Zone (above 8,000 meters) mountain--go up to first camp, acclimatize, go back, then go up to the second, higher elevation camp, acclimatize again, and so on. This return will be a gravity and health shock. But let's hope that everything goes fine.
