NASA plans early return for astronauts after 9 months in space
NASA has announced a new return date for astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, who have been on the International Space Station for over nine months. Their mission, originally planned to last eight days, has significantly extended due to technical issues with the Starliner spacecraft.
The astronauts' planned return has been moved to March 19, 2025, meaning they will return to Earth two weeks earlier than expected. According to the "Daily Mail," this change involves using another SpaceX spacecraft instead of the one intended for the SpaceX Crew-10 mission.
The extended mission means Williams and Wilmore could join the elite group of astronauts who have spent over 300 days in space. However, such a long stay in microgravity conditions has serious health consequences, including bone and muscle mass loss, as well as cardiovascular and vision problems.
Dr. John Jaquish explains that the prolonged lack of gravity contributes to rapid bone density reduction and muscle weakening, which is why astronauts on the ISS exercise about two hours daily to counteract these effects.
As reported by the "Daily Mail," despite these efforts, it's impossible to completely eliminate the negative effects of a lack of gravity. Meanwhile, Dr. Vinay Gupta emphasizes that although astronauts are prepared for harsh conditions, the reality of space often differs from training on Earth.
The return of Williams and Wilmore to Earth
According to the latest plans, Williams and Wilmore will return to Earth aboard the SpaceX Crew-9 mission in March 2025. NASA decided to delay the return to ensure ample time for the transfer of experiences between crews, which is crucial for the scientific research conducted on the ISS.
Simultaneously, NASA and SpaceX are preparing for the next mission, Crew-10, which is planned to launch no earlier than March 2025. Despite numerous challenges, the agency assures that the astronauts are in good health, and their experience will aid in further developing space programs.
