Credit: @iss/Instagram & NASA
Astronaut Stranded In Space For Over Six Months Issues Heartbreaking Health Update
A NASA astronaut currently stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) has shared a heartbreaking health update.
Sunita Williams, 59, and her fellow astronaut Barry Wilmore, 62, originally planned to spend only eight days on the ISS after launching on June 5.
However, their return was delayed due to technical malfunctions in the Boeing Starliner capsule that carried them into orbit.
The spacecraft returned to Earth without them, leaving them stuck on the ISS until at least late March, when they are expected to return on SpaceX’s Crew-9 spacecraft.
President Donald Trump commented on the situation, stating that ‘the two brave astronauts’ had been ‘virtually abandoned by the Biden administration,’ per Mail Online.
He called upon Elon Musk and SpaceX to facilitate their return.
“Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe,” Trump said. Musk responded by vowing to bring Williams and Wilmore back ‘as soon as possible.’
Although SpaceX was already assigned to return the astronauts, complications with Boeing’s Starliner delayed their departure.
The spacecraft experienced a series of technical issues, including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions.
NASA eventually deemed the capsule unfit for a safe return, opting instead to bring the astronauts home aboard Crew-9, which is currently docked at the ISS.
While NASA had initially scheduled the Crew-9 return for February, the timeline was adjusted in December.
NASA explained that Crew-10 must first launch to the ISS before Crew-9 can depart.
This shift means Williams and Wilmore will have spent approximately ten months in space—two months longer than a standard ISS mission.
Astrophysicist Scott Manley speculated on possible alternatives to expedite their return.
One approach would involve launching Crew-10 ahead of schedule, allowing Crew-9 to leave earlier.
However, SpaceX has not indicated whether this is feasible.
Another option would be allowing Crew-9 to depart before Crew-10 arrives, although this would go against NASA’s standard handover procedures.
These protocols ensure that departing astronauts can train the incoming crew to maintain smooth operations aboard the ISS.
And now, the astronaut has revealed that she has lost the ability to perform certain basic physical activities after spending an extended period in microgravity.
Williams, who has now been in space for 234 days, admitted that she has difficulty recalling what it feels like to walk.
“I’ve been up here long enough, right now I’ve been trying to remember what it’s like to walk. I haven’t walked. I haven’t sat down. I haven’t laid down,” she shared during a video call with students at Needham High School in Massachusetts.
Extended exposure to microgravity affects astronauts’ bodies in various ways, including muscle atrophy and bone density loss.
NASA states that without proper countermeasures, astronauts’ weight-bearing bones lose about one percent of their density per month.
Even everyday movements become difficult after prolonged weightlessness, making readjustment to Earth’s gravity a challenge.
Despite growing speculation, neither NASA, SpaceX, nor the White House have confirmed any changes to the return schedule.
NASA reiterated its commitment to bringing Williams and Wilmore back safely while ensuring a seamless transition between ISS crews.
The agency has also emphasized that although their stay has been prolonged, the astronauts are not ‘stranded.’
NASA medical teams continue to monitor their health as they endure the challenges of space, including prolonged weightlessness, increased radiation exposure, and psychological stress.
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