After spending over a year in space, Frank Rubio is now readjusting to the pull of gravity that Earthlings experience.

Rubio shared at a news conference held at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, that “Walking hurts a little bit the first few days, the soles of your feet and lower back,”

He went on to explain, “I think there is a certain level of pain that comes with the fact that your lower back now supports half your weight.”

Rubio’s return to Earth occurred two weeks ago, following a 371-day mission in space. His journey began in September of the previous year, taking off on a routine six-month mission aboard a Russian rocket, Newsmax reported.

However, the Soyuz spacecraft that was intended for their return had been docked at the International Space Station to serve as an emergency backup vehicle.

Unfortunately, in December, it experienced a coolant leak, likely due to a micrometeoroid. As a precautionary measure, the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, opted to bring the vessel back to Earth.

Written by staff