NASA’s Crew-8 astronauts, who recently completed a 235-day journey aboard the International Space Station (ISS), shared their experiences regarding the unexpected challenges of readjusting to life on Earth. During a press conference held on November 8, three of the four crew members—Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps—revealed the difficulties they encountered upon returning to Earth’s environment, particularly in readapting to gravity and the effects of its absence on the human body.
For many, the idea of living in space involves a series of physical and psychological challenges, and the Crew-8 astronauts were no exception. After spending over seven months in space, accustomed to microgravity, they faced a significant impact when returning to Earth’s gravity. Mission commander Matthew Dominick shared, in a lighthearted yet revealing manner, that one of the most unexpected challenges of readjustment was the difficulty of sitting on hard surfaces. “I’m a first-time pilot, and I’m fascinated by the readjustment,” Dominick said. “The big things you expect—being disoriented, feeling dizzy. But the small things, like simply sitting on a hard chair… My back hasn’t touched anything firm in [235] days.”
Dominick shared a personal anecdote about how, during dinner with his family shortly after returning, he was unable to remain seated in a hard chair. To continue participating in the conversation, he had to lie on the floor on a towel to relieve the discomfort. “That wasn’t in any book I read,” he joked, highlighting the lack of preparation for what seemed like a simple challenge. “Hey, you go to space. It’s going to be hard to sit in a hard chair.” His humor contrasted with the serious reality of what was happening to his body: after such a long time in microgravity, muscles and bones adapted to an environment without gravity, making everyday tasks more difficult than expected.
Astronaut Jeanette Epps, who was also part of Crew-8, shared her experience with the effects of gravity. “The weight and gravity of things are surprising,” she said. “I’ve been lying down whenever I get the chance, but you need to move. You have to exercise every day because otherwise, you won’t get the benefits of readjustment. You have to move, no matter how exhausted you are.” Epps’ comment reveals the profound impact that the absence of gravity has on the human body, leading to muscle loss and decreased endurance, which can only be recovered through daily exercise and continuous effort. She explained that even when the body feels extreme fatigue, it is essential for astronauts to push themselves to move to restart the process of adapting to Earth’s gravity.
Michael Barratt, who also took part in the mission and is a medical doctor, emphasized that the return of long-duration astronauts to Earth requires rigorous medical care. While post-mission medical check-ups are standard procedure, Barratt explained that instead of heading straight to NASA’s base in Houston, all Crew-8 astronauts were taken to a nearby hospital—Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola—as a precautionary measure. NASA revealed shortly after landing that the entire crew was transported to the hospital, but one astronaut had a more serious medical issue, leading to temporary hospitalization. However, NASA did not disclose which crew member was hospitalized or the nature of the medical condition. In a statement, the agency said the astronaut was “in stable condition” and “under observation,” without providing further details. Medical privacy was maintained in accordance with protocol and astronaut safety.
The Crew-8 mission, launched on March 3, 2024, faced several obstacles that delayed the astronauts’ return to Earth. Originally, the mission was scheduled to return earlier, but the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which was supposed to bring back another crew, encountered technical issues and was deemed too risky for the Crew-8 astronauts. As a result, NASA rescheduled the Boeing spacecraft’s deployment for future missions and reassigned Crew-8’s return, ultimately delaying their arrival. Additionally, unfavorable weather conditions throughout October further postponed the return, pushing the Crew-8 landing to the end of the month.
Despite these setbacks, the Crew-8 mission did not set a record for time spent in space, though it lasted longer than expected. Astronauts often extend their stay on the space station due to unforeseen events, such as a cooling system leak or technical failures in return spacecraft. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, for example, holds the record for the longest continuous stay in orbit, spending an impressive 371 days in space after his original journey was extended due to a coolant leak in the Soyuz capsule that transported him to the ISS.
The Crew-8 experience highlights the complexity of life in space and the profound effects of zero gravity on the human body. For many, adapting back to life on Earth is a difficult but essential process to ensure astronauts’ health and well-being as they cope with the consequences of microgravity in a new environment. The Crew-8 astronauts’ accounts serve as a reminder that, despite extensive training and preparation, space travel is a unique experience that can have unpredictable effects on even the simplest aspects of daily life, such as sitting in a chair.
The Crew-8 mission sheds light on the complexities and challenges of readjusting to life on Earth after extended periods in space. While astronauts prepare physically and mentally for the effects of microgravity, unexpected symptoms—such as difficulty sitting on hard surfaces or the impact of gravity on daily activities—demonstrate how susceptible the human body is to environmental changes. The mission also underscores the importance of rigorous medical care and the need for continuous exercise to ensure astronauts’ full recovery.
Although Crew-8 did not break the record for time spent in space, they still endured a longer and more challenging return than initially planned due to logistical adjustments and technical issues with transport spacecraft. This experience reinforces the complexity of space missions and the need for resilience and flexibility among astronauts when facing unforeseen circumstances.
Ultimately, Crew-8’s story serves as a reminder that, despite the wonders of space and technological advancements, the human body remains vulnerable to the extreme conditions of the space environment. The transition back to Earth is a process that requires more than just physical recovery—it involves a deep adjustment of both body and mind, making it one of the greatest challenges astronauts face after returning from prolonged missions.
