Doctors have expressed concern about astronaut Sunita Williams’ health after she appeared noticeably frail in a recently released photo follower her and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore returned to earth on Monday in a SpaceX capsule after spending months aboard the International Space Station. NASA shared images of Williams, 59, and Wilmore, 62, walking cautiously and greeting personnel after undergoing a series of health checks following their nine-month space mission.
Medical experts specifically noted Williams’ visibly thin wrists, telling DailyMail.com that this could signal rapid weight loss, muscle wasting in her arms, and a decrease in bone density. Experts also noted that the IV in Williams’ wrist is “most likely” intended to restore hydration and electrolytes, as microgravity can cause the body to lose essential fluids, leading to dehydration. Before-and-after photos of Williams reveal noticeable changes, including grayer hair, deeper wrinkles, and a more gaunt appearance.
However, experts view the fact that Williams and Wilmore were able to walk less than 24 hours after their return as a positive sign—some had feared it could take days for them to regain that ability. Dr. John Jaquish, a biomedical engineer at Jaquish Biomedical, told DailyMail.com, “That amount of time in space is crushing.”
Williams and Wilmore were originally scheduled for an eight-day mission on the International Space Station (ISS) after their June 5 launch. However, a series of technical problems with Boeing’s Starliner forced NASA to postpone their return until they could board a safer spacecraft. Ultimately, the duo spent 286 days aboard the ISS, splashing down on Tuesday. Upon landing, both astronauts were immediately placed on stretchers and taken for medical evaluations.
Dr. Olalekan Otulana, a general practitioner at Cassioburt Court in the UK, told DailyMail.com that Sunita Williams’ visibly thin wrists could signal muscular atrophy, particularly in her forearm muscles that are less active in space. Dr. Jaquish also observed that Williams has likely experienced weight loss and a decline in bone density. He said: “Without gravity, you don’t digest food as well. Compromising your ability to digest food is certainly going to contribute to muscle loss and bone loss on its own.”
He also pointed out that the astronauts’ minimal muscle movement during routine activities—such as simply getting up to walk—could lead to their tendons and ligaments shrinking. Dr. Vinay Gupta, a pulmonologist and Air Force veteran, told DailyMail.com, “I don’t think people realize that you need gravity to exercise your muscles. Without gravity, your muscles have nothing to have resistance against.”