ASTRONAUT GETS CARRIED AWAY FOR SCIENCE.

Byline: Associated Press

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.

Paramedics gently carried the weak Blaha onto an airport-style people-mover minutes after Atlantis landed with its crew of six. He 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.

``I mean, it's like I can't believe it. I feel very wobbly. I don't feel like I'm capable of walking very good,'' said the five-time space flier. ``I've improved a little bit. But right after wheels stop, when the orbiter stopped, I couldn't even raise my leg an inch. It wouldn't even move. It felt very heavy.''

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 preferred they didn't.