NASA astronauts keeps quiet on which astronaut fell ill during mission

Three NASA astronauts recently opened up about their eight-month mission on the International Space Station (ISS). Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps returned to Earth on October 25 after spending much longer in orbit than expected. 

The delay was due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule and rough weather, including Hurricane Milton.

Their return trip, in a SpaceX capsule, ended with a splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, just off the Florida coast. However, the trip didn’t end there. The astronauts were quickly taken to a hospital in Pensacola, Florida. 

They were joined by Russian cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, who had also been part of the ISS mission since March.

One of the American astronauts stayed at the hospital overnight for a “medical issue.” NASA has not shared details on who this astronaut was or the nature of the medical problem, respecting the astronaut’s privacy.

At a news conference on Friday, the astronauts discussed their time in space and their return to Earth. However, they did not say which of them had been unwell. Barratt, a trained doctor who specializes in space medicine, refused to describe the symptoms. He explained that space travel still holds many unknowns, even for those experienced in the field.

“Spaceflight is still something we don’t fully understand,” Barratt said. “We’re finding things that we don’t expect sometimes. This was one of those times, and we’re still piecing things together.”

The challenges didn’t end in space. Adjusting back to life on Earth proved tough, too. Epps, who had spent her first time in space, shared how each astronaut responded differently to gravity upon returning. She explained that people adapt at their own pace, saying, “Every day is better than the day before.”

Dominick described how simple activities felt strange after months of weightlessness. Sitting comfortably in a hard chair took some time to get used to. For Dominick, this mission was also an experiment in physical fitness. 

He had chosen not to use the treadmill during his time in orbit to see if they could do without it on long space missions, such as a trip to Mars. His first real walk was the moment he stepped out of the capsule after landing.

The two astronauts currently at the ISS who were testing Boeing’s Starliner capsule, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, will stay in space until February. They will return to Earth with SpaceX, as Boeing’s Starliner returned empty in September after its own series of technical challenges.

During their time on the ISS, the crew worked on many experiments. They also practiced handling different tasks in low gravity. But the trip wasn’t all work. 

Each astronaut faced the physical effects of extended space travel in unique ways. The mission’s length was unusual for many of them, especially with the added physical and mental challenges caused by technical delays.

Epps shared that the journey was about more than science; it was also about learning more about their bodies and minds in a unique environment. Each of them came back with new insights into space travel’s impact on health. She believes these lessons are vital as NASA prepares for longer missions in the future.

NASA continues to study the effects of long-term space travel on the human body. 

The information gathered from missions like this helps scientists plan safer and more efficient space exploration. Astronauts learn how to manage physical and mental health challenges, which is essential for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.