Astronaut reveals 'hardest part' about being stranded in space
Astronauts Barry 'Butch' Wilmore and Sunita 'Suni' Williams have been stranded in space for nine months after a mission that was meant to last just eight days went awry
An astronaut who has been stranded in space for nine long months has detailed what life is like floating around in orbit, waiting to return to Earth.
Barry 'Butch' Wilmore and Sunita 'Suni' Williams have been aboard the International Space Station since June, after arriving via a Boeing Starliner spacecraft. The mission was part of a week-long test flight designed to assess the spacecraft’s safety for carrying astronauts to and from space.
However, after the Starliner encountered technical issues during the journey, NASA determined that it was too risky to use the spacecraft to bring the astronauts back home. According to NASA, the pair are scheduled to return in March on a SpaceX mission. By that time, they will have spent roughly 10 months in space.
While Williams and Wilmore have minimised concerns about their extended expedition, Williams did acknowledge the emotional toll on loved ones back home.
“The hardest part is having the people on the ground not knowing exactly when we're coming back,” she said. “All of that uncertainty is probably the most difficult part.”
In addition, Williams also revealed that she has forgotten what it's like to walk. “I’ve been up here long enough right now I’ve been trying to remember what it’s like to walk,” the Massachusetts native told students.
“I haven’t walked. I haven’t sat down. I haven’t laid down. You don’t have to. You can just close your eyes and float where you are right here,” Williams said of her zero gravity environs, CBS reported.
Dr. Vinay Gupta, a pulmonologist and Air Force veteran, spoke with the Daily Mail about the rehabilitation process astronauts will likely face after returning to Earth. He explained that they will need at least six weeks of recovery, which will involve guided exercises and a nutritional plan.
The initial phase of recovery will focus on walking and rebuilding muscle strength, as, despite astronauts reportedly exercising for two hours daily in space, they still tend to lose bone density and muscle mass.
He explained, "The human body depends on Earth's gravitational pull, and without it, many bodily functions don't work properly. The truth is, they are getting only a small fraction of the exercise we all get from just walking in gravity."
Dr. Gupta added, "Even though astronauts are doing everything right — and I know they are — muscle mass and strength will inevitably decrease."
He also expressed concerns about the astronauts' radiation exposure and the potential risk of cancer.
"If I were their physician, I’d consider a more proactive approach to cancer screening," Dr. Gupta said. "Given their unique exposure history, we need to take a different strategy."