Indian Astronaut Sunita Williams Stranded for Over Seven Months in Space

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Sunita Williams, an Indian-origin astronaut, has now been stranded at the International Space Station (ISS) for more than seven months, following technical difficulties that delayed her originally planned eight-day mission. Williams and her colleague, Butch Wilmore, have been at the ISS since June, after a mechanical failure in the Boeing Starliner capsule prevented their return.

During a recent communication with students at Needham High School, Williams expressed the challenges of her extended stay, mentioning her struggle to remember what it feels like to walk or lay down. "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 reported. The duo has celebrated several holidays in space and participated in the 2024 US elections, with Wilmore noting that NASA made the voting process straightforward.

The delay was caused by the failure of five out of 28 thrusters during the Starliner's approach to the ISS, extending what was meant to be a brief trip to an indefinite stay. Williams has experienced significant weight loss as a result of the prolonged mission.

In recent developments, US President Donald Trump has reached out to tech billionaire Elon Musk, urging him to facilitate the astronauts' return home. Musk confirmed that SpaceX is prepared to assist, indicating that the Crew Dragon capsule may be launched earlier than planned to bring the astronauts back.

NASA has been coordinating with SpaceX since August to arrange for Williams and Wilmore's return. However, as of now, the earliest possible launch for the Crew-10 spacecraft has been shifted to March 2025, adding to the uncertainty of the situation.

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