Is Sunita Williams falling sick amid extended space mission?

Nasa has been under immense pressure after a week-long mission for astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore turned into a six-month wait on the International Space Station (ISS) due to a Boeing Starliner malfunction.

Originally scheduled for just eight days, Williams and Wilmore have now been stranded since June 6. Recent photos show Williams, 59, appearing notably gaunt, which has caused the doctors to worry about the impact of their extended stay in space.

What was supposed to be an eight-day mission has stretched into a tiring six months due to the malfunction.

A doctor has now raised concerns about the health of one of Nasa’s stranded astronauts after recent photos surfaced.

What are the health concerns?

Health concerns have emerged over the prolonged stay of Nasa’s astronauts in space, particularly Sunita Williams. Dr Vinay Gupta, a pulmonologist in Seattle, has said that while the two astronauts appear positive in public, a recent photo tells a different story.

It looks like those two American astronauts stuck in the ISS are not in good health, especially Suni Williams.🤔 pic.twitter.com/0bO64DUXeu

— ShanghaiPanda （ Account deactivation） (@thinking_panda) November 1, 2024

Speaking to Dailymail, Gupta said, “What you’re seeing there in that picture is somebody that I think is experiencing the natural stresses of living at a very high altitude, even in a pressurised cabin, for extended periods.”

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He stated that Williams’ “cheeks appear a bit sunken,” which typically indicates total body weight loss. “I think what I can discern by her face and her cheeks being sunken in is that [she] has probably been at a significant [calorie] deficit for a while," he added.

Space conditions increase calorie burn, as the body adjusts to zero gravity and tries to maintain temperature in harsh, cold environments. To counter muscle and bone loss, astronauts also exercise about 2.5 hours daily, burning additional calories.

This comes just days after reports that another Nasa crew was hospitalised after spending over 200 days on the ISS.

Notably, astronauts are suggested to consume up to 3,500 calories daily to prevent body breakdown, but Gupta explained that “Your metabolism [in space] fundamentally requires you to burn way more energy than you’re intaking, even if you’re intaking pepperoni slices.”

He said, “Her body’s probably working harder to do basic things because the partial pressure of oxygen is lower than it would be on sea level.”

Recently, Williams assumed command of the International Space Station for the second time. Williams, who previously served as ISS commander during Expedition 33 in 2012, has extensive experience in the orbiting lab.

Last month, she also shared Diwali wishes with people celebrating the festival in the United States and around the world.

Sunita Williams sends #Diwali greetings from space🕉 pic.twitter.com/YGAUnPWtJw

— News IADN (@NewsIADN) October 30, 2024

“Greetings from the ISS,” she said. “I want to extend my warmest wishes for a Happy Diwali to everyone celebrating today at the White House and around the world.

A 2014 Nasa study found women lose more blood plasma volume in space, with stress responses differing by gender: women experience a faster heart rate while men show increased vascular resistance. Plasma loss boosts metabolic rate, slightly elevating calorie burn and potentially leading to weight loss like that seen in Williams.

Nasa’s response to ‘health concerns’

In response to concerns about Sunita Williams’ ‘health’, Nasa reassured that she and her colleagues aboard the ISS are in good condition.

“All Nasa astronauts aboard the International Space Station undergo routine medical evaluations, have dedicated flight surgeons monitoring them, and are in good health,” NASA spokesperson Jimi Russell told DailyMail.

He further clarified that the normal duration of a stay aboard the space station is about six months and that Nasa astronauts have remained aboard the space station for even longer duration missions. “Both crew members also have previously completed two long-duration stays aboard the station.  The space station is well-stocked with everything the crew needs, including food, water, clothing, and oxygen,” he has further stated.

4 Nasa crew members hospitalised

On November 5, four Crew-8 astronauts who spent over 200 days on the ISS were sent for medical evaluations after their October 25 landing in Florida aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule.

Nasa confirmed that one astronaut initially required attention, and all were transported to a local hospital as a precaution.

Astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Alexander Grebenkin appeared in good condition upon landing but were later hospitalised for observation. However, Nasa did not share other details to keep the crew member’s medical details private.

What about the rescue mission?

Nasa’s plan is for a SpaceX Dragon craft currently undergoing tests at the ISS to return Wilmore and Williams, scheduled for February.

SpaceX launched a rescue mission in September, carrying a downsized crew for the retrieval. The Boeing Starliner that was meant to return Wilmore and Williams experienced issues earlier this year, forcing it back to Earth without them.

Nasa and SpaceX have coordinated for Wilmore and Williams’ return on a flight with two reserved seats. The rescue flight will not return until late February, as an earlier return would disrupt other scheduled missions.

SpaceX, a long-time leader in Nasa’s commercial crew program, took the lead in launching astronauts to the ISS in 2020, and it has now completed 10 crew flights for Nasa.

With inputs from agencies