Before and after photos of astronauts back on Earth show the impact of being in space for nine months
- Butch and Suni spent a record amount of time aboard the Space Station
- They were left stranded for nine months
- That length of time in zero gravity caused serious changes in their bodies
Published on Mar 27, 2025 at 4:17 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Mar 27, 2025 at 9:58 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
NASA astronauts Barry, AKA Butch Wilmore, and Sunita, AKA Suni Williams, spent a record-breaking nine months aboard the International Space Station, and the before and after photos of them are pretty shocking.
They were in space for far longer than their original plan of eight days.
Upon returning, they were stretchered away as their bodies needed time to readjust to Earth’s gravity.
Turns out that leaving Earth for an extended period of time can have a significant impact on your health and wellbeing.
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Physical changes to Suni Williams and Butch Willmore
Being stretchered away after their return is a normal procedure for NASA astronauts.
It’s all down to giving them time to readjust to Earth’s gravity after being in a weightless environment in space, where muscle and bone density are affected.
After an extended time in space, astronauts lose muscle mass and one percent of bone density per month.
The before and after photos
In the ‘after’ photos, observers noticed the astronauts looked more gaunt when compared to images of them from before their stint ahead of the ISS.
This could be linked to muscle and mass loss due to the lack of gravity.
Additionally, both Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore showed some signs of grey hair. Although this change started before the splashdown and was likely not due to the stress of re-entry.
Invisible effects on the astronauts
One of the significant changes you can’t see when astronauts return to Earth is the weakening of the heart from the lack of gravitational force required to pump blood.
What’s more, fluids that normally drain in Earth’s gravity accumulate in the head while in space. So the astronauts may have felt as though they had caught a cold due to this buildup.
Furthermore, space travel can affect the shape of the eyes and impact vision. And that can lead to long-term problems with eyesight.
Last, but certainly not least, exposure to cosmic radiation during their stay can cause alterations in DNA.
Thankfully, previous experiments have suggested that most of the damage to DNA will be repaired a few months after the astronauts return to Earth.
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London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness, and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the senior content writer and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms, and coveted brands. When her OOO is on from writing about cars and heading up on-site SEO you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym, or exploring the city she loves.
