Astronaut Swaps Space for Stretcher

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. —  Astronaut John Blaha returned to Earth on Wednesday after a punishing four months aboard the Russian space station Mir, and, instead of playing the hero, allowed himself to be carried off shuttle Atlantis on a stretcher.

It was the first time an astronaut agreed to be carried off after a long spaceflight. The decision delighted NASA doctors, who wanted to gauge immediately the effects of long-term weightlessness on the body, including dizziness and weakened bones and muscles.

Blaha was greeted by hugs and kisses from his wife of 30 years, Brenda, and their 23-year-old daughter, Carolyn.

The 54-year-old former combat and test pilot said he was “absolutely stunned” at how heavy he felt when Atlantis landed and how wobbly he still felt several hours later. He didn’t mind shedding his “Right Stuff” image for the sake of science.

“That was totally John’s decision” to be carried out, said astronaut John Grunsfeld. “He was very much into understanding long-term effects of spaceflight and wanted the doctors to get the best possible data they could. I think he’s a real trouper.”

Blaha’s two predecessors on Mir, including biochemist Shannon Lucid, who was up a record six months, shunned stretchers and walked off the shuttle even though doctors would have preferred that they didn’t.

Blaha said he wants a vacation--”doesn’t matter where.”