NASA astronaut Barry Wilmore‘s wife, Deanna, recently shared about the difficulty that Barry is going through since returning from space. Having been in space for nine months aboard the International Space Station, he is now coping with life back on Earth. The prolonged duration in space has seen him have physical challenges such as muscle weakness and bone loss. Deanna described how hard it has been for Barry to regain strength and adapt to the impacts of weightlessness. His recovery will be time-consuming and demanding, but he is set to persevere. Readapting to the effects of gravity is only just starting for Wilmore.

Nine months in space ended for astronaut Barry Wilmore on March 18, when he returned to Earth, but his welcome home was the beginning of a challenging ordeal. The microgravity of space has caused him severe health issues. Barry and fellow astronaut Sunita Williams are experiencing severe muscle weakness and bone loss from extended periods in microgravity. Experts caution that they can lose as much as half their muscle mass and 20% of their bone density. Barry’s wife, Deanna, said, “His stamina isn’t there, and they have to rest and relax quite a bit because they’re just not strong yet.”
The Wilmore family reunion was tearful and filled with hugs instead of words. Barry’s daughters, Daryn and Logan, were there to greet him upon his return, with Logan set to graduate—a milestone Barry almost didn’t get to see. Deanna looked back, “It was just a lot of hugging and enjoying the moment.” Specialists indicate the recovery process may take over a year as Barry tries to regain his strength and health.

Barry Wilmore’s rehabilitation journey: From weightlessness to gravity

Nine months in space, and Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams are finally on solid ground, but their greatest challenge is yet to come. NASA has booked 45 days of rigorous rehab, from core strengthening to mobility training, to get them back into the feel of gravity. “Nothing completely prepares you for Earth’s pull,” said spine expert Dr. Ehsan Jazini. Despite training prior to landing, the adaptation is difficult, and recuperation may take more than a year.
But Wilmore and Williams have already impressed all of us by walking within 24 hours of landing, a task many astronauts find difficult. “It’s amazing given how hard it can be right after landing,” said one expert. While rehab continues, the Wilmore family is organizing a much-needed summer vacation to celebrate Barry’s homecoming and a well-deserved rest from the cosmos. Barry’s mission of gaining back strength and adapting to the gravity is just beginning and there is a lot more to come in his way.