Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams and her colleague, Butch Wilmore, have been stranded at the International Space Station for over five months after Boeing's faulty Starliner spacecraft malfunctioned. Newly released images of Williams show a drastic weight loss and sunken cheeks due to the prolonged stay in space. NASA employees have expressed concern for her health and are working on stabilizing her weight loss. Astronauts have to eat twice as many calories as regular people while following a special food packaging methods and exercising for two hours daily to maintain their health in space.
Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams, stuck in space after a technical issue with Boeing's spacecraft, shared a heartfelt Diwali message from the International Space Station. She expressed her gratitude to US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for celebrating Diwali at the White House. Williams also reflected on the significance of Diwali and the contributions of the South Asian American community in America.
NASA faces uncertainty as it awaits Boeing's ability to resolve certification issues plaguing its Starliner spacecraft. After propulsion problems during Starliner's first crewed test flight in June 2024, NASA had to delay the next potential mission to the ISS to 2025. With the spacecraft's certification still incomplete, NASA is questioning if a second test flight will be necessary before regular missions can proceed. As a result, astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will now return to Earth on SpaceX's Crew Dragon in 2025, instead of the originally planned Starliner-1 mission. NASA's ISS operations will continue uninterrupted with the upcoming Crew-10 mission in February 2025, featuring astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers.
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are set to come back to Earth in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, but there are complications surrounding their return. The crew only has one SpaceX suit that fits the astronauts, while the Boeing suits they originally wore are not compatible with the spacecraft. This has raised concerns about their safety and the support they will have during their long-duration mission.
TDP MLA Koneti Adimulam from Andhra Pradesh is facing allegations of sexual assault by a senior female party leader. The woman held a press conference, alleging that Adimulam had sexually assaulted her multiple times and threatened her if she told anyone. Amidst the controversy, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, carrying astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, will now return to Earth with NASA and Boeing engineers monitoring the live autonomous return.
NASA has announced that they have selected Elon Musk's SpaceX to bring astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore back from the International Space Station (ISS) next year. Williams and Wilmore have been on the ISS for over 80 days and were originally scheduled to return with Boeing's Starliner, but due to technical issues, their stay is being extended and they will now be returning with SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson explained the decision was made for the safety of the astronauts, as the Starliner's propulsion system presented too much risk. The news has also sparked discussions about rebuilding trust in Boeing among NASA officials.
After a thorough agency-level review, NASA has decided that astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore will return to Earth on a SpaceX-crewed Dragon mission in February next year, as issues with Starliner's propulsion system deemed it unsafe for the crew's return. The decision was made after careful consideration by agency administrator Bill Nelson and collaboration with Boeing. The inherent risks of space travel were also emphasized, with a commitment to further understand and improve upon the Starliner's design to ensure safety for future missions.
After encountering technical issues that prevented its return, the Starliner spacecraft is now in the final stages of analysis by NASA and Boeing. A decision will be made on Saturday, August 24th to determine if the spacecraft is ready for its return mission. The agency will hold a televised news conference to discuss the findings and outline the next steps. Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are currently working aboard the International Space Station and have been actively supporting preparations for the potential return.
Despite the excitement of an extended stay in space, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore face several health challenges due to their prolonged exposure to microgravity. From fluid shifts and bone loss to visual impairments and increased radiation levels, this mission highlights the impact of long-duration space travel on human health. As space agencies continue to research and implement strategies to manage these risks, we gain a better understanding of the effects of microgravity on the human body.
Veteran astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore are currently docked at the International Space Station after facing multiple setbacks on their return journey in the Starliner spacecraft. NASA, along with the manufacturer Boeing, is conducting investigations and tests to ensure the safety and success of their return trip. However, the astronauts remain optimistic and confident that the spacecraft will bring them back to Earth without any problems.