A recent space mission had an unexpected twist when a NASA astronaut was taken to the hospital after returning from a long stay on the International Space Station. This trip, originally planned for only five months, was extended to nearly eight months due to issues with Boeing's new astronaut capsule and a pesky hurricane. The astronauts touched down safely in the Gulf of Mexico, but one of them experienced a medical issue and was quickly flown to a Pensacola hospital for further evaluation. NASA assured everyone that the astronaut was stable and would stay in the hospital as a precaution. The other three astronauts were given the all-clear and returned to NASA's Johnson Space Center. The extended time in space can take a toll on the body, making readjustment to Earth's gravity a bit challenging.

The astronauts should have been back home two months earlier, but their journey was delayed by problems with Boeing's Starliner capsule, which came back empty in September due to safety concerns. Hurricane Milton and high winds added to the delay, pushing their return date even further. SpaceX launched the four astronauts — Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Alexander Grebenkin — in March. Barratt, the veteran space traveler, praised the ground support teams for their adaptability in handling the mission's many twists and turns.

Replacements for the returning astronauts include Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, whose mission was also delayed. They will stay on the space station until February, along with two astronauts launched by SpaceX four weeks ago. With these changes, the space station is back to its normal crew size of seven — four Americans and three Russians.

Space Mission Hiccup: A NASA Astronaut's Unexpected Hospital Stay

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