Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, 59, has been stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for over seven months, following technical failures that extended what was initially planned as an eight-day mission.
Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore have remained in orbit since June 2024 after the Boeing Starliner capsule, which carried them to the ISS, suffered mechanical issues and had to return to Earth without them. The extended delay has raised concerns about their health and well-being as NASA seeks alternative solutions for their return.
Speaking to students from Needham High School, Williams shared her experience of prolonged space travel, expressing the challenges of readjusting to gravity after months in microgravity. “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. You don’t have to. You can just close your eyes and float where you are,” she was quoted as saying by People Magazine.
The duo has adapted to life aboard the ISS, celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas in space, and even voting in the 2024 U.S. elections via NASA’s secure process. However, prolonged exposure to zero gravity has resulted in visible weight loss for Williams, fueling concerns about her health.
The delay stems from multiple thruster failures on the Boeing Starliner, which experienced malfunctions during its approach to the ISS. NASA had enlisted Elon Musk’s SpaceX to aid in their return, initially planning to use the Crew-9 capsule. However, further scheduling changes pushed the Crew-10 launch to no earlier than March 2025, extending their stay indefinitely.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in on the situation, criticizing the Biden administration and urging SpaceX’s intervention. “They have been waiting for many months on the International Space Station. Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe,” Trump stated. Musk confirmed that SpaceX would expedite efforts to bring the astronauts home, calling the delay “terrible.”
Recent developments suggest that the Crew Dragon capsule Freedom may depart the ISS sooner than expected, potentially carrying Williams and Wilmore back to Earth. NASA and SpaceX have yet to confirm a final return date, but efforts are underway to ensure their safe return after an unexpectedly prolonged mission in space.
