Two NASA astronauts are stranded in space after setting out on an eight-day trip back in June.
With the duo having been up in space for more than 50 days, many are wondering how the astronauts are doing and how the wait could be impacting their health.
On June 5, 2024, Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams set out on an eight-day trip to the International Space Station (ISS).
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However, they ran into trouble when the new Boeing Starliner capsule – that launched them into space and was supposed to bring them home – experienced thruster failures and helium leaks.
As a result of the issues, the astronauts have had to stay up on the ISS for way longer than anticipated, while NASA works to return them to Earth.
On 24 September, a SpaceX Crew-9 mission is set to launch, transporting three NASA astronauts and one Roscosmos cosmonaut to the ISS. This adds urgency to the situation as the Starliner is currently in the way, and it must be cleared in order to make way for the new crew.
This whole predicament has gone on to pose the question: What exactly happens to your body when you’re up in space for a long period?
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The astronauts have been in space for more than 50 days. (Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
In an article about astronauts visiting Mars, NASA discusses the changes that occur as they transition from different gravity fields.
They explain: “It affects spatial orientation, head-eye and hand-eye coordination, balance, and locomotion, with some crew members experiencing space motion sickness.
“… Moreover, the fluids in the body shift upward to the head in microgravity, which may put pressure on the eyes and cause vision problems.
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“If preventive or countermeasures are not implemented, crews may experience an increased risk of developing kidney stones due to dehydration and increased excretion of calcium from their bones.”
Despite this, while the astronauts have been up in space for longer than planned, they do have enough supplies and resources and say they are feeling confident about the situation.
They were recently asked if they had any concerns about returning, given the issues they are facing.
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Speaking from the ISS during a virtual press conference, Williams said: “We’ve been through a lot of simulations for this spacecraft to go through all sorts of iterations failures.
“I think where we are right now and what we know right now and how the spacecraft flew as it was coming in to do the docking, I feel confident that if we had to… if there was a problem with the International Space Station, we could get in our spacecraft and we can can undock, talk to our team and figure out the best way to come home.
“We’ve practiced a lot so I have a real good feeling in my heart that this spacecraft will bring us home, no problem.”
Featured Image Credit: NASA/ABIDAL
Topics: Space, NASA, News
