Following their successful return to Earth, NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams are set to undergo medical evaluations aboard the recovery ship. Their SpaceX Dragon capsule, which splashed down off the Florida coast after more than nine months in space, is being secured for transport onto the vessel.
According to the NASA-SpaceX live feed, once aboard, the astronauts will receive immediate medical assessments to evaluate their physical condition after prolonged exposure to microgravity. Standard post-mission procedures include checking for muscle atrophy, balance issues, and overall health status before they are cleared for further travel.
After the evaluations, the astronauts will board helicopters to return to land and then depart for Houston, where they will continue post-flight rehabilitation and debriefings. Their extended stay in space, due to technical issues with their original return spacecraft, makes these medical checks especially crucial in ensuring a smooth transition back to Earth’s gravity.
