NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore are facing extended difficulties aboard the International Space Station (ISS), now finding themselves bound to space for ten months due to a spacecraft malfunction.
According to the Daily Mail, NASA's Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore have been stranded on the ISS for eight months, with physical deterioration and technical challenges compounding their plight.
The pair originally scheduled for a brief eight-day mission have spent over seven months in orbit beyond their planned return, dealing with unprecedented challenges.
In March, a Boeing capsule launched Williams and Wilmore to the ISS. Shortly after their arrival, technical problems involving helium leaks and thruster malfunctions came to light, rendering the capsule unfit for a safe return journey.
The astronauts' health has become a concern as Sunita Williams admitted she struggles with basic physical activities like walking due to long-term exposure to 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," Williams shared.
Barry Wilmore, alongside Williams, is also experiencing significant muscle and bone deterioration, a common issue for astronauts who spend extended periods in space.
Astronauts in microgravity environments face loss of bone density and muscle strength. For every month aboard the ISS, astronauts can lose up to one percent of bone density without intervention, which proves serious over many months.
This worsening condition pushed NASA and SpaceX to plan a rescue mission to bring the astronauts home. The next scheduled mission, Crew-9, expected to return them by late March, will have extended their stay to nearly a year.
NASA initially hoped to initiate the return journey as early as February but delayed the mission because they had not finalized preparations for the subsequent Crew-10 capsule.
Under the directive of President Donald Trump, who criticized the previous administration for their handling of the situation, SpaceX has been actively coordinating with NASA to expedite the return of the astronauts.
"The two brave astronauts were virtually abandoned by the Biden administration," Trump declared, insisting on Elon Musk's involvement. "Elon will soon be on his way. Hopefully, all will be safe," he added, expressing his trust in Musk's capabilities.
Elon Musk himself has committed to recovering Williams and Wilmore as quickly as feasible, stating that SpaceX aims to "go get" them soon.
Scott Manley, an aerospace analyst, suggests that there are a few ways to bring the astronauts home sooner, including launching Crew-10 earlier or allowing Crew-9 to return before Crew-10 launches. However, these methods would require breaking from standard NASA protocol, indicating the complexity and urgency of the situation.
NASA, addressing these discussions, reassured the public and stakeholders. "NASA and SpaceX are expeditiously working to safely return the agency's SpaceX Crew-9 astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore as soon as practical, while also preparing for the launch of Crew-10 to complete a handover between expeditions," the agency stated to DailyMail.com.
Despite the challenges, assurances from NASA and SpaceX provide hope that Williams and Wilmore will safely return to Earth, though their ordeal underscores the unpredictable nature of space travel and the resilience required by those who undertake it.
