Nasa has made a new statement about about four astronauts who required hospitalisation following their splashdown off Florida's coast on October 25.
There are growing concerns about astronaut health, including worries about current International Space Station crew member Sunita Williams.
The Crew-8 astronauts spent 232 days in space before their return to Earth, with one requiring an overnight hospital stay whilst three others were discharged after medical evaluations.
Some observers have speculated about potential issues during the crew's descent, though Nasa maintains the crew "safely splashed down aboard their SpaceX Dragon spacecraft".
The four astronauts remain in hospital
REUTERS
The fact that all four astronauts required medical attention has led to questions about whether the issues were related to their return flight.
Recent concerns about astronaut health have extended to current ISS crew member Sunita Williams, after a September 24 photo showed her looking notably thin.
Dr Vinay Gupta, a pulmonologist in Seattle, told the Daily Mail that Williams' "cheeks appear a bit sunken", suggesting significant weight loss.
However, Nasa has firmly rejected these concerns.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with its Crew Dragon capsule launched from pad LC-39A during Axiom Mission Three (Ax-3) at the Kennedy Space Center
GETTYNasa spokesman Jimi Russell said: "'All Nasa astronauts aboard the International Space Station undergo routine medical evaluations, have dedicated flight surgeons monitoring them, and are in good health."
Space conditions cause astronauts to lose body fat, muscle mass and bone density, whilst exposing them to high doses of radiation.
These harsh conditions can result in various health complications, including vision problems, kidney stones and increased vulnerability to infections aboard the ISS.
The space agency maintains its position of protecting astronaut medical privacy, declining to reveal which crew member needed extended care or the nature of their conditions.
Despite repeated inquiries, Nasa has directed media to an October 26 blog post rather than providing detailed information about the astronauts' conditions.
The blog post confirmed one astronaut's overnight stay at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola in Florida, noting they were "in good health and will resume normal post-flight reconditioning with other crew members".
Williams and crewmate Barry Wilmore have been aboard the ISS for six months and will remain there until at least February 2025.
