NASA has delayed the return of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams from the International Space Station to February 2025 due to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. The mission, originally planned to be eight days, will now be extended.
NASA acknowledges problems with Starliner and favors SpaceX.
Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, created for ferrying astronauts to and from the ISS, has encountered propulsion system issues that hinder its operation, necessitating NASA to arrange for the return of astronauts Wilmore and Williams via a future SpaceX mission, Crew-9.
NASA has chosen to utilize SpaceX’s Crew Dragon for bringing back the astronauts to Earth instead of Starliner. The Crew-9 mission is set for February 2025.
What is life like on the International Space Station (ISS)?
While Wilmore and Williams wait to return, they maintain their routine at the ISS, which emphasizes self-sufficiency and resource recycling. Water, a precious commodity, is recycled from astronaut urine for consumption, and personal hygiene products are designed to conserve water.
Astronauts adhere to a strict standard for their meals, consuming powdered or prepared food meticulously planned for nutritional requirements. They often eat tortillas to prevent crumbs in the microgravity setting and have a small plant cultivation on the station for fresh food access.
What about well-being?
Living in space for extended durations poses major health challenges for astronauts, as the absence of gravity results in muscle mass and bone density decline, increasing the chances of bone fragility and kidney stone formation. The International Space Station (ISS) addresses these concerns by providing a gym for daily astronaut workouts; however, full reversal of these effects often only occurs upon their return to Earth.
