Three NASA astronauts who recently returned from the ISS said they felt fine. However, the crew avoided discussing medical problems that caused the hospitalization of one of the astronauts after returning to Earth.
The Crew-8 team, which included NASA astronauts Michael Barrett, Matthew Dominick, Jeanette Epps and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, landed on October 25. After a routine medical examination, one crew member was hospitalized, but was discharged the very next day in good health.
NASA didn’t specify which astronauts were hospitalized, citing medical confidentiality. Barrett, speaking on November 8, said he would not discuss the incident in detail because of the need for secrecy. He added that space missions were still unpredictable, so the incident came as a surprise, emphasizing that relevant public information would be provided later.
Barrett, a doctor with a passion for space medicine, explained that adapting to flight and to Earth afterward is a major challenge. He emphasized that the incident would be reported eventually, but for now, it is crucial to maintain confidentiality for safety.
The astronauts shared their impressions of adapting to Earth conditions after 235 days in space, an experience that is always a challenge. Dominick, who was in his first flight, talked about the difficulty of adapting, even in familiar things like sitting on a hard chair, which came as a surprise to him. He humorously recalled that he hadn’t expected how discomforting a normal seat could be after prolonged weightlessness.
The crew thanked colleagues and families for their support and noted the positive mission experience. Jeanette Epps noted that although they worked hard, they enjoyed their time in space.
Earlier we reported on how Crew Dragon made a dangerous “space dance” at a speed of 28,000 km/h.
Provided by theguardian.com
