New photos of NASA astronauts who are stranded in space until 2025 spark concerns about their health
Topics: International Space Station, Science, Space, NASA
Ella Scott
Featured Image Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images/NASA
Topics: International Space Station, Science, Space, NASA
New images released of the stranded astronauts onboard the International Space Station (ISS) has sparked concern amongst onlookers here on Earth.
Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams, 59, and Barry ‘Butch’ Wilmore, 61, were initially launched into space from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on June 5 for what was supposed to be an eight-day round trip to the ISS.
But as the Boeing Starliner Calypso approached the space station, the capsule’s thrusters malfunctioned.
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Following an investigation, NASA ruled it was too dangerous for Williams and Wilmore to return to Earth onboard the Starliner on June 14 as planned.
The brave pair have since remained among the stars and are expected to hitch a ride back on the SpaceX Crew-9 in February 2025.
Despite the pair seeming to be in good spirits, recent images of them onboard the ISS have sparked concern - particularly amongst a practitioner, who has voiced their worries over Williams’ health.
These pictures show the Ohio native and Wilmore tucking into uncooked pizza and packets of grilled peppers.
Specialist Dr. Vinay Gupta claimed that while the retired US Navy officer is likely experiencing a ‘significant’ calorie deficit, her life isn’t in any immediate danger.
'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 pressurized cabin, for extended periods,” he told the Daily Mail.
“Her cheeks appear a bit sunken - and usually it happens when you've had sort of 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.”
After analyzing the photograph, Dr. Gupta has confirmed the astronauts’ appearance doesn’t spark major concern or highlight that her ‘life's in danger’.
“But I don't think you can look at that photo and say she has sort of healthy body weight,” he explained. “There's just things that the human body cannot adjust to, and one of which is, you know, she's probably losing more calories than she's intaking.'
The practitioner added that Williams' body is probably working harder to do basic things because oxygen is lower in the ISS than it would be at sea level.
In a September press conference broadcast from space, Williams admitted she and Wilmore were missing their family and friends.
“I miss my two dogs, I miss my friends. But you know what? Like Butch said, there are so many people on Earth that are sending us messages," she said.
“And it makes you feel just right at home with everybody when we’re able to have those conversations with our friends and family at home.”
Meanwhile, Wilmore described the expedition as a ‘evolution’.
“We’ve been involved from the beginning through all the processes of assessing our spacecraft, Calypso," he said. "And it was trying at times. There were some tough times all the way through.
“You certainly, as the commander and the PLT (pilot) of your spacecraft, you don’t want to see it go off without you, but that’s where we wound up.”
When asked if he felt ‘let down’ when Starliner returned to the surface of the Earth without its crew, Wilmore confessed: “Let down? Absolutely not. Never entered my mind. I don’t think Suni’s either, until you mentioned it.
“Obviously, when you have issues like we’ve had, there’s some changes that need to be made. Boeing’s on board with that. We’re all on board with that.”
Wilmore added that he and his professional partner were ‘very fortunate’ to have set up a base at the Space Station and that they had the option to stay or return to the planet in ‘a different way.’
In a statement to LADbible Group, NASA said: "All NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station undergo routine medical evaluations, have dedicated flight surgeons monitoring them, and are in good health."