Watch: Astronaut struggles to walk after spending 197-days in space
Haven't we all dreamed of life in space and don't we love enacting floating astronauts taking extremely big leaps? However, in reality space travel is an altogether different ballgame. It requires rigorous training sessions and astronauts face major physical complications after returning to earth. Recently, an astronaut tweeted about his struggle to normally walk on earth after spending 197 days in space.
This astronaut has spent 60+ hours spacewalking till now
Astronaut A. J. (Drew) Fuestel took to Twitter to show what spending some 5-6 months in space does to your body. He tweeted a video of the field test experiment, where he was seen having a hard time maintaining balance. Fuestel was the commander of Expedition 56. This was his career's ninth spacewalk, which means he cumulatively spent 61 hours and 48 minutes spacewalking.
The spacewalk is no cakewalk
Netizens confused if space is still fascinating
The video seemed to have scared netizens who are now having second thoughts about their space fantasy. One netizen wrote, "Wow, I better stay at home. I hope he recovers soon." While some found it fascinating, someone wrote, "It's fascinating how the body adapts to its environment. Thank you to all astronauts who sacrifice your lives and bodies for the benefit of science!"
Astronauts exercise for 2 hours daily while in space
Wondering why this happens? The answer is gravity. Astronauts, whose bodies are used to Earth's gravity, put an extra effort to adapt to the microgravity when in space. Thus, they exercise for 2 hours daily at the International Space Station on the special-treadmill, a stationary-bike, and a machine that stimulates weightlifting. Despite all this, they suffer from muscular atrophy and cardiovascular de-conditioning upon returning.
Long-term spaceflight causes increase in cerebrospinal fluid in brain
That's because muscular strength reduces by 11-17%, muscular endurance by 10% and bone mineral density by 2-7%, after spending 180 days in space. Reports say long-term spaceflight, roughly of 165 days, causes an increase in cerebrospinal fluid. The fluid helps in normal functioning of brain, so any disturbance to it causes changes in cognitive functions, like reasoning, attention, mood, physical health, etc. Still fascinated?
