NASA Astronaut Faces Health Crisis After Prolonged Stay on International Space Station.
In a concerning development, NASA astronaut Sunita Williams is facing a deteriorating health condition after spending an extended period on the International Space Station (ISS). What was initially intended to be an eight-day mission has now stretched into a grueling six-month ordeal, due to a malfunction in the Starliner spacecraft.
Williams, along with fellow astronaut Barry Wilmore, is grappling with the challenges of long-duration spaceflight, as recent photos have revealed a visibly gaunt appearance, raising fears about significant weight loss and potential nutritional deficiencies – common issues faced by astronauts in extended missions.
According to Dr. Vinay Gupta, a Seattle-based pulmonologist, the image of Williams suggests that she is “experiencing the natural stresses of living at a very high altitude, even in a pressurized cabin, for extended periods.”
Dr. Gupta noted that her sunken cheeks indicate she has been consuming fewer calories than she is expending, likely due to the body’s increased energy demands in the harsh environment of space.
This worrying development comes on the heels of the recent hospitalization of another NASA crew, the Crew-8 astronauts, who had spent over 200 days on the ISS.
After their return to Earth, four of the Crew-8 members were sent for medical evaluation, with one astronaut requiring overnight observation.
NASA has stated that the decision to hospitalize the Crew-8 astronauts was made “out of an abundance of caution,” and the agency has not yet shared the specific reasons for the precautionary measures, citing the need to maintain the privacy of the crew members’ medical details.
With Elon Musk’s Dragon capsule scheduled to rescue the Starliner crew, including Williams and Wilmore, in February, the NASA community anxiously awaits the safe return of its valiant astronauts, who have endured extraordinary challenges to push the boundaries of human exploration.
