End of one of the most significant and widely followed modern space missions An unfamiliar feeling of being unable to walk normally

After a historic ten-day journey around the Moon, the crew of the “Artemis 2” mission safely returned to Earth after NASA confirmed the successful splashdown of the return capsule in the Pacific Ocean, marking the end of one of the most prominent and closely watched space missions in recent history.

While the safe landing scenes kept viewers on edge, a new and equally important phase now begins, as astronauts face a series of health challenges resulting from time spent in a microgravity environment, according to the New York Post.

Upon returning to Earth, astronauts typically experience balance difficulties, dizziness, nausea, and an unfamiliar inability to walk normally, as their bodies have spent days adapting to a weightless environment—almost as if the body is undergoing a “reset” to readjust to Earth’s gravity.

Physical challenges These effects are not limited to that alone. Even relatively short space missions can lead to muscle weakness and gradual loss of muscle mass, as well as decreased bone density due to the lack of need to support body weight. Vision disturbances may also occur due to fluid redistribution in the body, along with sleep problems and possible impacts on the immune system.

During the mission, the crew attempted to mitigate these effects through a strict exercise program inside the “Orion” spacecraft, which included daily workouts to maintain physical fitness. However, experts emphasize that the most difficult phase begins after return, when astronauts undergo a real test of their bodies’ ability to readapt.

After being recovered from the ocean, the crew members were transported to specialized medical centers for initial examinations before heading to Houston to continue detailed rehabilitation programs aimed at restoring full physical balance.

Despite these challenges, specialists note that the human body has an impressive ability to adapt, as astronauts gradually regain strength and balance over weeks or months, in a recovery journey that is no less remarkable than their journey into space.