American astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams are heading back to Earth on Tuesday after spending more than nine months in space. Now, their focus shifts to a new objective: recovery. Why it’s significant: Muscle weakening, loss of bone density, and even changes in vision are common consequences of extended stays in space. While some effects of living hundreds of miles above Earth can reverse quickly, others may linger. Wilmore and Williams are scheduled to return to Earth later tonight after detaching from the International Space Station early Tuesday morning. A closer look: One of the most notable effects of prolonged exposure to microgravity is muscle atrophy, or weakening. The longer a mission lasts, the more pronounced this atrophy becomes, explained Shenhav Shemer, a biology professor at the Technion — Israel Institute of Technology who studies muscle deterioration. Williams and Wilmore might experience this condition differently. Women,...
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