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Astronauts returning to world changed by coronavirus pandemic after months in space

Two NASA astronauts say they expect it will be tough returning to such a drastically changed world next week, after more than half a year at the International Space Station.

Andrew Morgan said the crew had tried to keep across the pandemic news, but he said it was hard to comprehend what was really going on and what to expect when his nine-month mission ended next Friday.

“It is quite surreal for us to see this whole situation unfolding on the planet below,” said Jessica Meir, who took part in the first all-female spacewalk last year.

As an emergency doctor in the US Army, Dr Morgan said he felt a little guilty coming back midway through the medical crisis.

“It’s very hard to fathom,” Dr Morgan said.

Ms Meir said it would be difficult not being able to hug family and friends, after seven months off the planet.

She anticipates feeling even more isolated on Earth than in space.

“We’re so busy with so many other amazing pursuits and we have this incredible vantage point of the Earth below, that we don’t really feel as much of that isolation,” Ms Meir said.

“So we’ll see how it goes and how I adjust,” she said.

“But it will, of course, be wonderful to see some family and friends, at least virtually and from a distance for now.”