Sunita Williams returns to Earth: Her health challenges have just begun

By our Special Correspondent

NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore have finally ended their unexpected nine-month stay in space, but their health journey on Earth is just beginning.

They may face a variety of health problems — from weaker bones and muscles to vision issues and “baby feet” — as their bodies adjust back to the planet’s gravity.

The astronauts splashed down in a SpaceX Dragon capsule off the coast of Florida just before 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 18. They smiled and waved as crews helped them out of the spacecraft on the deck of SpaceX’s recovery vessel.