What in the World
What in the World
How does going into space impact the human body?
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April 29, 2025
13 minutes
Available for over a year
Nasa astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams recently returned to Earth after a longer-than-expected nine months on the International Space Station (ISS). And when the astronauts emerged from their space craft they were helped on to a stretcher, which is standard practice after spending so long in a weightless environment.
The BBC’s Caroline Steel has been looking into how going into space impacts the body. She talks us through how muscles, bones and even vision are affected, and how astronauts can limit any long-term damage. Peggy Whitson holds the world record for the woman who has spent most time in space - 675 days. She explains the challenges of lifting weights while in zero gravity.
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Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Mora Morrison and Emilia Jansson
Video Journalist: Baldeep Chahal and Kesewaa Browne
Editor: Verity Wilde