NASA astronauts remain silent about mystery illness after long space mission
The SpaceX crew of the Dragon spacecraft, from left, cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, pilot Michael Barratt, commander Matthew Dominick and mission specialist Jeanette Epps gather for a photo after arriving at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Feb. 25, 2024. (AP Photo)
Three NASA astronauts, who returned from the International Space Station after nearly eight months in orbit, have declined to reveal which of them was briefly hospitalized following their homecoming.
Despite public curiosity, astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt and Jeanette Epps opted to keep the identity of the affected crew member private, citing medical confidentiality and NASA’s policy on health matters.
Mystery illness sparks health discussion post-spaceflight
After splashing down off the Florida coast on Oct. 25, the trio, alongside Russian cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, was transported to a Pensacola hospital for evaluation.
One of the Americans required an overnight stay due to an undisclosed “medical issue,” but NASA has not disclosed further details about the condition or identity of the astronaut.
Dr. Michael Barratt, a space medicine expert, stated that even with extensive training, “spaceflight is still something we don’t fully understand. We’re finding things that we don’t expect sometimes,” hinting that the team is continuing to analyze the incident. Barratt did not elaborate on the symptoms that led to the hospital stay.
Adapting back to Earth: From microgravity to everyday life
The crew, who had an extended stay due to delays with Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule and complications from Hurricane Milton, shared that adjusting back to Earth’s gravity has been a slow process.
Astronaut Jeanette Epps emphasized the unpredictability of each astronaut’s individual response to reentry, explaining, “That’s the part that you can’t predict.” She added optimistically, “Every day is better than the day before.”
Meanwhile, Dominick noted that even simple acts, like sitting comfortably, took days to reacclimate to after the mission. He also revealed that he skipped using the treadmill during the mission as part of a study aimed at determining which equipment might be necessary for long-distance missions, such as potential future Mars journeys.
Looking ahead: NASA’s Starliner remains docked at space station
NASA’s partnership with Boeing remains under the spotlight. Despite ongoing issues, Starliner is expected to bring astronauts back in 2024.
Current test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will stay on the ISS until February, when they plan to return to Earth on a SpaceX flight, with Starliner completing a separate mission in the interim.
As NASA pushes the frontiers of human endurance in space, the mysteries of health in spaceflight remain part of the challenge for those journeying beyond Earth.
