Report Wire

Tag: sunita-williams

  • ‘We Found Something’…- Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore Revealed Why Starliner Returned Without Them |

    NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore recently shed light on why Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft returned to Earth without them. Initially scheduled for a short eight-day mission, the astronauts had to adapt to a much longer stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS) after Starliner experienced technical difficulties.

    Starliner’s Technical Issues Force Empty Return

    The Boeing Starliner faced issues that ultimately forced NASA to send the spacecraft back to Earth without its intended crew. Although the spacecraft experienced helium leaks and propulsion concerns, it landed successfully. Wilmore explained, “We could have gotten to the point where we could have returned on Starliner, but we simply ran out of time.”

    NASA made the decision to return the Starliner empty in early September, prioritizing the need to free up the docking port for other spacecraft. Williams expressed relief at the spacecraft’s safe return, saying, “I was so happy it got home with no problems.”

    The availability of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon as an alternative played a crucial role in the decision-making process. Wilmore highlighted this advantage: “There’s many cases in the past where there have not been other options.” Both astronauts plan to return to Earth in 2025 aboard the Crew Dragon.

    Wilmore said, “Obviously, when you have issues like we’ve had, there’s some changes that need to be made. Boeing’s on board with that. We’re all on board with that.” Acknowledging the risks inherent in testing new spacecraft, Wilmore said, “When you do things with spacecraft that have never been done before, just like Starliner, you’re going to find some things that we just. Couldn’t get comfortable with.”

    Despite the unexpected length of their stay in space, Williams remains upbeat. “This is my happy place. I love being up here in space. It’s just fun,” she shared.

  • ‘Prolonged ISS Stay Could Lead To Space Anemia For Sunita Williams And Butch Wilmore’: NASA |

    Even as NASA is expected to make a final call on Saturday to plan the return of Indian-Origin Sunita Williams and Butch Willmore to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS), health experts pointed the risks to the human body because of prolonged stay in microgravity.

    Williams and Willmore became the first to ride Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on June 5. The eight-day mission to the ISS has now extended to more than two months in space for the duo. NASA officials have expressed concern that technical glitches on Starliner may pose risks while de-orbiting on Earth.

    The space agency is expected to decide on Starliner’s safety levels. If it deems Starliner unfit, the astronaut duo will likely return onboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule in February 2025. However, the extended mission is likely to increase their exposure to microgravity and cause space anaemia, health experts said.

    Microgravity can lower the count of hemoglobin and red blood cells (RBCs) — essential for the transport of oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. “If astronauts duration anemia during their space missions which could be for long develops, there could be a significant impact on their energy, strength, and endurance,” Dr. Anoop P, Sr. Consultant – Haematology, Pediatric Haemato-Oncology & Bone Marrow Transplant, at Aster RV Hospital, Bengaluru, told IANS. Sequestration and haemolysis may be considered as the main causes of space anaemia which means the red blood cells are destroyed prematurely, he explained.

    The net effect is that more red blood cells are destroyed than produced while in space. This condition can critically affect the health of astronauts not only during extended stays in space but also upon their return to Earth, the expert said. As per NASA, the human body on Earth creates and destroys about 2 million red blood cells every second.

    However, astronauts destroy 54 per cent more RBCs, or 3 million per second, during six-month space missions, revealed a 2022 study published in the journal Nature Medicine. The study showed that the effects may be felt only after landing on Earth.

    “In space, astronauts may exhibit reductions in blood volume and orthostatic tolerance, as well as decreased aerobic capacity and higher probability of arrhythmias. While the cardiovascular system seems to be working fine under space and the body does not require as much of an effort from the heart (still a muscle) in microgravity,” Dr. Irfan Khazi Javeed, Consultant – Internal Medicine, Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru, told IANS.

    Anoop suggested proper exercise regimens to help maintain the RBC levels, regular monitoring of blood parameters during the mission, and having access to a diet rich in iron and other essential nutrients that help maintain adequate hemoglobin levels and support the production of red blood cells are the possible solutions that could help enhance their health conditions while on their space mission.

    “Ongoing studies into the mechanisms of space anaemia are critical, as understanding the underlying causes, such as increased haemolysis and the impact of microgravity on bone marrow function, can lead to the development of targeted therapies and strategies to prevent anaemia during long-duration space. missions,” he said.

    Williams, selected as an astronaut by NASA in 1998, is a veteran of two space missions — in 2006 and 2012. Born to Indian-American parents, she currently also holds the record for the longest time spent in space by a woman — 322 days. The latest mission is expected to create a new record for her.