NASA astronaut's struggle: 8 months in space changes everything
A NASA astronaut reveals that after spending eight months in space, she lost the ability to perform basic tasks such as walking or sitting.
NASA astronaut Sunita Williams admitted that after eight months in space, she forgot what it's like to walk. She shared her experiences during a video call with high school students in Massachusetts.
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, said Williams, as quoted by the "Daily Mail".
The 59-year-old astronaut and her companion Barry Wilmore, 62, were supposed to spend eight days on the International Space Station (ISS). However, technical issues with Boeing's capsule delayed their return to Earth. Therefore, the astronauts will remain on the ISS until March of this year, when they are expected to return to Earth aboard SpaceX's Crew-9.
Donald Trump blames predecessor for "abandoning astronauts"
Former President Donald Trump criticized the Biden administration for "practically abandoning" the astronauts and asked Elon Musk for help in their return. Musk promised that SpaceX would bring the astronauts back "as soon as possible."
SpaceX already had the task of returning astronauts to Earth due to issues with Boeing's Starliner, which had helium leaks and engine failures. NASA determined that the Starliner would not provide a safe return and announced that the astronauts would return aboard Crew-9.
NASA and SpaceX are working on a safe return for the astronauts. Despite the extended stay, NASA emphasizes that the astronauts are not "trapped." They also ensure that doctors and medical experts constantly monitor the astronauts' health. If they manage to return home in March of this year, their mission will last eight months, meaning they won't break Frank Rubio's record of 371 days spent on the ISS.
