NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore have spent around nine months at the International Space Station against their original expected mission length.
Boeing’s Starliner capsule transported Williams and Wilmore to space on June 5 for what supposed to be an eight-day mission.NASA extended an indefinite delay of the astronauts’ return due to technical equipment failures which placed them in this never-before-seen scenario.
NASA has provided declarations of safety for the astronauts but public anxiety continues to rise about the effects of extended space time on their medical condition.
Donald Trump announced his complaints about the Biden administration for its supposed delay in getting the astronauts back to Earth.
He referred to Williams and Wilmore as “two brave astronauts” who have been “virtually abandoned,” according to MailOnline.Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, responded to the situation by reaffirming his commitment to bringing the astronauts home “as soon as possible.”
The crew had an established SpaceX return flight planned but Boeing Starliner suffered unexpected operational issues that made a safe homecoming impossible.
NASA determined that operational faults such as helium leakage and thruster breakdown made the spacecraft unfit for return to Earth.
NASA chose to retrieve the astronauts aboard the presently ISS-docked Crew-9 mission.
The return voyage of Crew-9 underwent delays because of scheduling conflicts and will now take place towards the end of March.
NASA stated that Crew-10 must perform its launch mission before Crew-9 can depart thus creating extra time delays.
The extended stay in space amounts to ten months for Williams and Wilmore which exceeds the normal duration of an ISS mission by two months.
Astrophysicist Scott Manley proposed different approaches to shorten the return period of astronauts to Earth.Placing the Crew-10 launch earlier on the schedule would allow Crew-9 to depart earlier.
The Company has not disclosed any information about the possibility of this solution.NASA standard procedures prevent our alternativeplan to send Crew-9 before Crew-10 joins the station.
NASA has established standard handover procedures that enable departing astronauts to instruct their successors on ISS duties before their departure.
Williams along with Wilmore provided insight about their prolonged stay on board the space station.
Through a video conference with Needham High School students in Massachusetts Williams discussed how long-duration space exposure affects the human body.
“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. I haven’t laid down,” she said. According to the astronaut she has not experienced any rest since she started this mission.
NASA has established for years that long-term exposure to microgravity results in problems such as muscle atrophy and bone density reduction.
Bones of astronauts deteriorate by one percent each month when they lack protective measures in space.Moving normally after spaceflight becomes hard because of zero gravity so Earth adaptation becomes a major challenge.
A medical professional has outlined the hard reality that awaits Williams and Wilmore after they return to Earth.The air force physician Dr. Vinay Gupta points out that NASA astronauts Williams and Wilmore need instant medical attention after spaceflight according to his interview with MailOnline.
After landing they will require stretchers for transportation since their muscles have weakened to an extent that makes stepping impossible.
The patients require six weeks of rehabilitation to regain muscle strength while building bone density and flexibility together with cardiovascular health.
His medical team has stated that continuous radiation exposure may cause health problems such as cancer and cause serious bone loss referred to as osteoporosis.
During the prolonged mission the psychological burden requires support for astronauts besides emotional assistance to transition back to Earth life.
NASA has made no official announcements about redirecting their return schedule even though many people wonder when the astronauts will return to Earth.