New Delhi: NASA has announced that astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will return to Earth in February 2025, six months later than originally planned. The duo, who are currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), will make their return journey via a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft instead of the initially intended Boeing Starliner. This extended mission has raised concerns about their survival, particularly regarding the availability of food and oxygen.
NASA has assured that there is no immediate danger to the astronauts, stating that the ISS is well-stocked with all necessary supplies, including food, water, clothing, and oxygen. The agency emphasized that regular resupply missions will continue to ensure the astronauts’ needs are met. Recently, two spacecraft carrying a combined load of over 11,000 pounds of food, fuel, and supplies arrived at the ISS.
Living in space for an extended period requires special accommodations. On the ISS, astronauts can sleep anywhere—on the floor, ceiling, or walls—thanks to zero gravity. They use sleeping stations equipped with sleeping bags and pillows attached to various surfaces. Astronauts can also stay connected with loved ones through video calls, audio calls, or emails using NASA’s communication systems.
To maintain physical health, the ISS is equipped with a gym called the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED), where astronauts can perform exercises like squats, deadlifts, and bench presses using vacuum cylinders to simulate weights. This helps them maintain muscle mass and bone density during their extended stay in space.
Additionally, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have access to the ISS’s Vegetable Production System, or Veggie garden, which allows them to grow fresh produce and flowers in space. During their prolonged mission, the astronauts have been experimenting with various techniques to enhance crop growth in the unique environment of space.
The astronauts are scheduled to return to Earth in late February aboard a SpaceX spacecraft. Meanwhile, the Boeing Starliner, which was originally slated to bring them back, will undock in early September and attempt an uncrewed return journey.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the agency’s commitment to safety, explaining the decision to keep the astronauts on the ISS and return the Starliner uncrewed. “Spaceflight is risky, even at its safest and most routine. A test flight, by nature, is neither safe nor routine,” Nelson stated.
