Photos of Indian-American Astronaut Sunita Williams viral on social media show her significant weight loss aboard the International Space Station. What went awry aboard the Starliner Spacecraft and the imminent danger of the crew’s prolonged stay? Jnanendra Das writes.
When Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft launched from the United States on June 5, 2024, at 10:52 AM (Eastern Daylight Time-EDT), it marked a significant step for commercial space exploration. Commanded by seasoned NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” E. Wilmore (61) and Sunita “Suni” L. Williams (59), the mission aimed to reach the International Space Station (ISS) for an eight-day trip. However, what was meant to be a brief venture has become an extended stay as the astronauts remain stranded in space, caught in the web of Boeing’s technical troubles.
The mission, officially dubbed the “Boeing Crew Flight Test,” was meant to be the final hurdle to prove Starliner’s capabilities for commercial human spaceflight, after SpaceX. But while Wilmore and Williams did reach the ISS successfully after a challenging 27-hour journey and some quick-thinking manoeuvres to override faulty thrusters, the spacecraft’s repeated malfunctions raised serious concerns about its reliability for a safe return.
Life on the ISS: A Safe But Lengthy Stay
While the Starliner issues have kept them from returning, the astronauts are not in immediate danger. The ISS is well-equipped, offering ample space, oxygen recycling systems, and food and water supplies for six months, with cargo spacecraft routinely restocking. Butch and Suni are actively contributing to the ongoing Expedition 72 at ISS, focusing on areas like space botany, pharmaceutical manufacturing, advanced life support systems, genetic sequencing in microgravity, and neuro-degenerative disease research alongside other crew members. Suni is also the commander of Expedition 72 which began on September 23.
As a part of Expedition 71, astronauts Suni and Butch also researched how plants can be grown in space, algae-based life support systems and space-caused fluid shifts which caused her sunken face and gauntness.
What Went Wrong with the Starliner?
In a series of critical failures, the Starliner exposed Boeing’s technical glitches. Before launch, engineers grappled with a helium leak in the propulsion system, and even mid-flight, four more leaks were identified, alongside a malfunction in five of the spacecraft’s 28 thrusters. Despite Starliner’s successful docking—the technical flaws undermined trust in Starliner’s capacity for a safe re-entry, leading NASA to ground the craft.
NASA responded swiftly by arranging for their eventual return aboard a SpaceX Crew-9 mission, slated to dock off the ISS in February 2025. This rescue will extend Wilmore and Williams’s stay to nearly nine months—a far cry from the planned eight days
What happens in case of a prolonged space stay?
Due to space’s unique environment, extended stays aboard the ISS can lead to several physical and psychological worries. According to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), without gravity, muscles, particularly in the legs and core, weaken, and bone density decreases, increasing fracture risk; to counter this, astronauts exercise for about two hours daily.
Bodily fluids also shift toward the upper body, causing facial puffiness and congestion, and can lead to issues with blood pressure regulation when returning to Earth. The lack of atmospheric protection exposes astronauts to high-energy cosmic radiation, raising long-term cancer risks. Additionally, low gravity affects the inner ear, initially causing nausea and dizziness, though the brain eventually adapts. Some astronauts experience “gravity sickness” upon returning to Earth.
NASA’s Human Research Program found that living in confined quarters for months with limited personal space can also cause stress, isolation, and mood changes. Microbes can change characteristics in space, and microorganisms in the human body are transferred more easily from person to person.
The Road Ahead: Safety and a Return to Earth
Cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov holds the record for the longest single space mission of 437 days on the Mir station from January 1994 to March 1995. During this mission, he underwent extensive medical assessments, revealing no impairments in his cognitive function but a temporary decline in mood and a sense of increased workload, particularly during the early weeks in space and after return. His mood stabilised between the second and fourteenth months, and researchers found no long-term impairments.
For now, the ISS is home for the two astronauts, while the Starliner undergoes scrutiny. With NASA prioritising astronaut safety, doctors and nutritionists are constantly monitoring Suni’s health amidst the surfacing of worrying pictures of her deteriorating health.
In a press release, NASA announced efforts to increase her calorie intake to ensure her well-being. However, Sunita addressed the speculation about her appearance, attributing her “sunken cheeks” not to health issues but to the natural “fluid shift” effect of microgravity. She clarified this during a video appearance at the United Nations climate change conference, COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, on November 12.