For the first few weeks of spaceflight, most astronauts appear to have a puffy head and skinny legs. The fluid in their bodies redistributes evenly when gravity isn't playing a role in their biologica
Coordination Conundrum After Landing - After coming home from a stint on the space station, many astronauts have reported difficulty adjusting back to gravity. Sometimes, spaceflyers will drop things,
-forgetting that gravity is influential back on Earth. After six months in microgravity conditions, it is difficult to adjust to life in a place where materials fall if you drop them.
Bone Density Loss - All that exercise on the space station also helps prevent bone-density loss. Each month, astronauts could lose up to 1 percent of their bone density if they don't get enough exerci
You Grow Taller - During the six months that most astronauts spend on the International Space Station, they can grow up to 3 percent taller. Without gravity, the spine is free to expand, making the sp
-ine is free to expand, making the spaceflyers taller, even when they first return to Earth. The astronauts return to their preflight height after a few months of being back within the planet's gravity.