Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams and two other astronauts returned to earth yesterday, splashing down off the coast of Florida, east of St. Augustine. The capsule was gently placed on the retrieval barge and the group was gently lifted to the craft.
So, after a 8 1/2 month exercise in the ISS(International Space Station), Wilmore and Williams will spend the next few days acclimatizing to Mother Earth's environment where gravity will come back into play. Much ado was made of the voyage, not the least of Elon "The Muskrat" Musk involvement. The original space craft used initially was a Boeing unit called Starliner. Upon arrival at the ISS, the Starliner craft developed leaks in its propulsion systems. It was decided that this craft would be too risky to return the 2 recent arrivals. It returned empty on its own without incident. Williams and Wilmore were then included in the regular rotation of ISS astronaut crews. Nine more months to go.
The two celebrated both their birthdays, Christmas, New Years, and Thanksgiving. They included many ongoing research projects that kept them very busy, including ISS maintenance. When they returned, they were joined by 2 regular rotating astronauts.
Now, at ages 59, and 61, their recovery and adjustment to earth will be closely observed. It is known that the body ages more quickly in space. Fluids build up not just in the extremities, but in various other locations, including the brain. Bone density is reduced due to lack of gravity. It may or may NOT return to normal levels, which could be late life issues for the two. If they aged excessively at the known rate, the two are 10 earth years older, physically. Mentally, TBD.
Welcome home you two. Well done. Both are former Navy pilots=experienced.
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