NASA astronaut's space sojourn: Struggles of an 8‑month stay
A NASA astronaut reveals that after eight months in space, she lost the ability to perform basic tasks such as walking or sitting.
One of the NASA astronauts, Sunita Williams, admitted that after eight months spent in space, she forgot what it's like to walk. She shared her experiences with secondary school students in Massachusetts during a video call.
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 "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). Still, technical issues with Boeing's capsule prevented their return to Earth. It was decided that the astronauts would remain on the ISS until March. Then, they are expected to return to Earth aboard SpaceX's Crew-9.
Donald Trump blames predecessor for "abandoning astronauts"
President Donald Trump criticised the Biden administration for "practically abandoning" the astronauts and asked Elon Musk for help in their return. Musk promised that SpaceX would return the astronauts "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 emphasises 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, their mission will last eight months, meaning they won't break Frank Rubio's record of 371 days spent on the ISS.
