After their return to the earth, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will undergo a 45-day rehabilitation programme to adjust to the earth’s gravity. The rehabilitation program which aims at post-flight reconditioning begins on the day of landing and is held for 2 hours per day, seven days a week and will continue for 45 days. It is tailored to the specific needs of the astronauts and helps them to readjust from microgravity to earth’s gravity.
The Astronaut Strength, Conditioning and Rehabilitation (ASCR) specialists have administered a reconditioning program, focusing on all deficits, which improves the physical condition of all returning astronauts. The ASCR group is comprised of certified strength and conditioning professionals, certified/licensed athletic trainers, and physical therapists and provides pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight mission support to crew, including exercise hardware training, exercise prescription, post flight reconditioning, and musculoskeletal care..
Phase 1 of the rehabilitation program stresses on ambulation, flexibility, and muscle strengthening. Phase 2 adds proprioceptive exercise and cardiovascular conditioning. Phase 3, which is the longest phase of the program, focuses on functional development. All programs are tailored specifically for each individual according to their test results, preferred recreational activities, and mission roles and duties.
After completing post-flight reconditioning, it is shown that astronauts have regained, and in most cases improved upon, their pre-flight baseline condition.
Williams and Wilmore traveled 121,347,491 miles during their mission, spent 286 days in space, and completed 4,576 orbits around Earth, NASA has said. Williams has logged 608 days in space over her three flights, and Wilmore has logged 464 days in space over his three flights, it added.
With this, Sunita Williams now holds the record for total spacewalking time by a female astronaut, with 62 hours and 6 minutes outside of station, and is fourth on the all-time spacewalk duration list.