All of the information stated in this article is based on reliable sources, and the specific information is detailed at the end of the article
The American astronauts, who were forced to work overtime in space for 287 days, are finally back!
No one expected that the original "8-day" voyage would be postponed indefinitely for 9 months, and the 59-year-old Suni set a new record for female astronauts in history with a spacewalk of 62 hours and 6 minutes.
However, despite the successful landing of the astronauts, the crisis does not seem to have been resolved, because the accident has caused significant changes in the physical condition of these astronauts.
Judging from the current situation of the two astronauts exposed by NASA, it can scare a crying child, and behind this strand, there seems to be a deeper political purpose of the United States.
Suni, an American astronaut being lifted out of the capsule
8 days of "business trip" becomes 9 months
In 2024, NASA and Boeing will jointly launch the "Starliner" manned space program, striving to fulfill the dream of "space tourism" for everyone.
In 1986, the US space shuttle "Challenger" exploded 73 seconds after liftoff, killing all seven astronauts.
American astronauts killed on the Challenger
In 2003, the U.S. space shuttle Columbia lost contact on its return home, disintegrated and exploded in mid-air, killing all seven astronauts on board.
Footage of the explosion of the space shuttle Colombia
It was only after two tragedies that the United States began to "make amends" and decided to let the space shuttle officially withdraw from the stage of history, choosing to rent a Russian manned spacecraft to send astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
The high rent gradually made the United States unbearable, so NASA decided to develop a new generation of manned spacecraft and chose to work together with SpaceX, so that the United States' new generation of "starliner" spacecraft was born.
American Starliner spaceship
In order to test the stability of the starliner, the United States selected four astronauts to go to space, among which 59-year-old Suni and 62-year-old Barry are the most experienced, they have participated in many space missions and are also the core of the team.
But no one expected that the highly anticipated "interstellar airliner" would repeat the mistakes of the past, and the situation was frequent during the first manned test flight, either thruster failure or helium leakage, which made people wonder whether the two astronauts were flying in a "semi-finished product".
The original 8-day voyage plan has also begun to be postponed indefinitely, although the two astronauts can still keep in touch with the earth, and have always been "reporting good news but not bad news", but their bodies have visibly changed dramatically.
Judging if the two of them change
In space, because the space station can orbit the Earth 16 times a day, Suni and the other three astronauts can see sunsets 16 times a day, which is 286 days, which is overwhelming to think about.
The picture comes from the Internet
Even when Suni learned that the United States had "given up" on himself, he directly gave up "image management", and his dark circles and unkempt hair could simply scare crying children, like "Medusa" in Greek mythology.
Suni's face has also undergone obvious changes, the whole cheeks have become "awl-shaped", the cheeks are very sunken, and it seems that he has been severely calorie deficient for a period of time, and his weight has dropped rapidly.
Footage from the inside of Suni's spaceship
In addition, in the gravitational environment of space, astronauts cannot carry out growth exercises, resulting in accelerated loss of bones and muscles, and young people can't stand it, let alone an old man like Suni, who is close to 60.
In order to survive the waiting time in space and forget the reality of being "abandoned", Suni and several other astronauts had to entertain themselves, spending their birthdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas in space.
Because of the risk of sudden fainting and fracture in a weightless environment, Suni also participated in a "long-distance marathon" on the space station, using a treadmill, a stationary bicycle, and a resistance device to complete a triathlon for nearly four and a half hours.
In space, Suni said that she had never walked, let alone lying down or sitting, and she had always been looking for the feeling of walking.
But despite all these preparations, when returning to land, Suni collapsed directly to the ground, losing his center of gravity and being carried out of the cabin.
After that, these astronauts will undergo a six-week medical examination, which is divided into three stages, because these astronauts have been in space for too long, and it is easy to pose a safety hazard.
For example, the bacterial environment in space is not at all the same as that of the earth, and after living in space for 286 days, it is easy to be invaded by viruses on the earth, and the resistance is also reduced.
As for the psychological problems, it is even more noteworthy that after staying in a closed weightless environment for so long, there is no time to return to the sea, and the thought of facing the vastness of the universe is desperate, and the astronauts' mental and physical damage is also damaged.
In addition to the physical health of the astronauts, many people are concerned about what compensation package the United States will give to these astronauts, and NASA quickly announced to the outside world that it will pay astronauts "overtime", but when it comes to the specific amount, it surprises everyone:
For 287 days, at the standard of 4 US dollars per day, you can only get an additional remuneration of 1148 (8291 yuan).
Cover News2025.03.18About "Two American Astronauts" Business Trip to Space for 287 Days Overtime Pay is Only 8,000 Yuan? ".
According to NASA's official explanation, astronauts' salaries are all standard wages, so there are no additional overtime benefits, only the obligation to pay astronauts $4 a day in incidental expenses.
I have to say that this shift is too aggrieved, not to mention the double blow to the body and spirit, even the overtime pay is only more than 1,000 US dollars, if you can come back, there may not be an astronaut willing to stay in space to "work overtime".
But then Musk broke the news that the two astronauts actually had the opportunity to return to Earth before, but due to some special reasons, the plan was stranded, and there was an unspeakable "political conspiracy" of the United States behind it.
Astronauts forced to get involved in political games
Musk said in an interview with the American media afterwards that SpaceX's technical means could allow the astronauts to go home as soon as possible, but because of complex political factors, he was rejected during Biden's tenure.
The reason for this is self-evident, after all, during the Trump campaign, Musk has been cheering, and if Musk's company picks up astronauts during the election campaign, it will definitely lead to a shift in the center of public opinion, so Biden, who supports the Hamas camp, will return to the plan "indefinitely extended".
Trump and Musk
After the incident, Barry also admitted that what Musk said was definitely not a lie, although he didn't know the details, there were indeed many unspeakable political factors behind it, and these astronauts had become "innocent political victims".
The United States keeps respecting human rights and shouting about freedom and democracy every day, but it has even moved its political game to outer space and involved several astronauts.
epilogue
In any case, it is fortunate that the astronauts have returned safely, and I hope that they can recover soon, reunite with their families, and hope that there will be no more farce in the United States that makes astronauts forced to "work overtime".
Information sources:
1. Guangming.com 2025.03.19 "Stranded in space for more than 9 months, they finally returned to Earth!" 》
2. Cover News 2025.03.18 "Two American astronauts went on a 287-day "business trip" in space, and the overtime pay was only 8,000 yuan? 》
3. Shangguan News 2025.03.19 "286 days of overtime pay of $1,148, the US stranded astronauts finally "get off work", Musk: delayed by the presidential election"
4. China Youth Daily 2025.03.19 "Female astronauts and colleagues who have been stranded in space for nearly 290 days are back"