Last update:09 November 2024, 12:13 IST

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for over 150 days after their Starliner spacecraft malfunctioned.

Sunita Williams’ noticeable weight loss following her long stay in space has raised concerns. (Photo: X)

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams is currently stranded with Butch Wilmore on the International Space Station for nearly five months after Boeing’s malfunctioning Starliner spacecraft returned to Earth in September because it was deemed too risky for a crew. However, the photo of Williams showing drastic weight loss in space has taken the internet by surprise.

Newly released images of the 59-year-old astronaut showed her with a pronounced facial structure and a drastically thinner frame with sunken cheeks, indicating that she suffered a health crisis from her extended stay in space after the Starliner spacecraft malfunctioned.

“He’s lost a lot of weight,” a NASA employee directly involved in the mission told the New York Post. “The pounds have melted off her and now she’s skin and bones. So it’s a priority to help her stabilize the weight loss and hopefully reverse it.”

READ ALSO: ‘Proud to be an American’: Sunita Williams, other astronauts vote from space, post Election Day pic

What do astronauts eat in space?

Astronauts must eat twice as many calories as humans on Earth because of changes in their metabolism in space. “They have to eat about 3,500 to 4,000 calories a day just to maintain their current weight, and when you start falling behind, your weight drops off quickly,” the NASA employee said.

Scientists use special ways to pack and eat food in space. There are several categories of foods, including freeze-dried foods. In this method, astronauts freeze the food and squeeze water into the food packets to dehydrate it. They also eat heat-stabilized foods such as canned and bagged fish or chicken.

Other foods such as nuts, granola bars, and cookies are also consumed by astronauts in clear packets, as well as powdered beverages, condiments, and desserts. Astronauts eat three times a day to maintain their muscle mass and density. Astronauts also have to exercise for over two hours to maintain their muscle mass and bone density in a zero-gravity environment.

How much does a long stay in space affect astronauts?

Being in space for a long period of time takes a serious toll on an astronaut’s health, leading to weight loss, muscle damage, bone loss, heart and vision problems, and kidney stones. Staying on the ISS, Williams and Wilmore push their human limits.

Additionally, several NASA studies have determined that the effects of space travel are harsher on women. A 2023 study found that female astronauts lose muscle mass at a faster rate than their male counterparts.

According to the NASA employee, Williams was unable to keep up with the high-calorie diets that astronauts must eat. To gain weight, Williams may have to eat up to 5,000 calories a day, the source told the NY Post.

What did NASA say about Williams’ health?

Williams and her colleague were only supposed to be at the ISS for eight days before the spacecraft’s malfunction extended their stay. In light of recent concerns over the Indian-origin astronaut’s health, NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate spokesman Jimi Russell said all astronauts currently stationed on the ISS are “in good health” and undergoing ” routine medical assessments”.

Russell told the Daily Mail that all astronauts are closely monitored by flight surgeons to ensure their health and safety. However, behind the scenes, the US space agency scrambled to help Williams after photos of her shocking weight loss shocked the internet.

Doctors at NASA began working with Williams about a month ago to help her gain weight. Williams and Wilmore are set to return to Earth on the SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon capsule, which won’t arrive until February 2025. During that time, the astronauts will experience microgravity, close quarters and high doses of space radiation.

Location:

Washington DC, United States of America (USA)