Living in space for over 200 days came with some completely bizarre consequences for these NASA astronauts, who found they couldn’t complete some basic tasks on their return to Earth
After spending more than seven months floating in microgravity, coming home was not just emotional; it was physically overwhelming.
While you might expect dramatic tales about re-entry or high-tech systems, the real surprises were far more ordinary.
In fact, some of the hardest challenges involve things most of us never even think about.
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NASA astronauts have to readjust to being on Earth
A crew of astronauts had been living aboard the International Space Station as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission, clocking around 235 days in orbit before splashing down off the coast of Florida.
During that time, their bodies adapted to microgravity, where muscles and bones do not have to constantly fight against gravity.
So when they returned to Earth, everything suddenly felt heavier.
NASA
Mission specialist Jeanette Epps explained that even everyday objects seemed shockingly weighty.
Simple movements required more effort, and standing upright for long periods was unexpectedly tiring as her body recalibrated to 1G.
Despite strict daily exercise routines in space to limit muscle and bone loss, the transition back to full gravity still came as a major adjustment.
NASA
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The surprisingly tough reality of sitting down
Then came one of the most relatable moments of all.
Commander Matthew Dominick revealed that after months without constant pressure on his body, something as basic as sitting down felt almost unbearable.
NASA
A standard hard chair, something most of us would not think twice about, suddenly felt incredibly uncomfortable.
During a family dinner outside, he found himself ditching the chair entirely and lying down in the yard instead because sitting upright for that long was just too much.
NASA
It is a reminder that space travel does not end when the rocket lands in the sea.
For these astronauts, the real challenge began when they got back on solid ground, where gravity, heavy objects, and even a simple chair became the ultimate astronaut mission.
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