Astronaut Sunita Williams along with her fellow astronaut Butch Willmore have been at the International Space Station (ISS) since June 2024. The pair had launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on June 5 for its first crewed flight, arriving at the space station on June 6. What was supposed to be an eight-day-long mission turned into months of wait after Boeing’s faulty Starliner spacecraft left the duo stuck on the ISS. Williams along with Willmore have now spent over 150 days at ISS.

While concerns have been raised repeatedly about the health of the astronauts, recent photos have stirred the discussion. Williams appears gaunt, which experts say might mean she is suffering from nutritional deficiencies and that the extended stay is taking a toll on her body — a phenomenon that’s expected for astronauts who are in space for a long mission.

A photo of a NASA astronaut putting together a pepperoni pizza is circulating on social media, and it appears Williams has lost considerable weight.

 

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

— ShanghaiPanda (@thinking_panda) November 1, 2024

Dr Vinay Gupta, a pulmonologist and veteran in Seattle, US, told the Daily Mail that what people are seeing in that picture is someone who seems to be dealing with the natural stresses of living at a high altitude, which includes living in a pressurized cabin, for long periods. The doctor said that her cheeks look a bit sunken, which typically occurs with overall body weight loss.

Sunita Williams Stuck In Space: Expert’s Take On Possible Health Impacts

Dr Kuldeep Kumar Grover, Head of Critical & Pulmonology, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, shares with Zee News, “Stays in space for more than a certain length of time can negatively impact health. Other effects include long periods under micro-gravity such as muscle atrophy and bone density loss, as well as disruption in cardiovascular status.” 

The doctor further says that fluid shifts increase intracranial pressure, which poses some risk to vision. “Other potential risks also include circadian rhythm disruption due to the absence of the normal day-night cycle, which causes sleep problems and negatively affects the mental state of the astronaut. These effects mean that precautionary measures and health monitoring should be used during long-duration missions to space,” adds Dr Grover.

According to experts and as mentioned in the Daily Mail report, the human body burns more calories in space to adjust to the changes in gravity and tries to maintain its body temperature in cold, harsh conditions. Additionally, to prevent muscle and bone loss, astronauts exercise about 2.5 hours a day, which leads to further calorie burning.

Sunita Williams’ Health Update: NASA Responds

Meanwhile, amid concerns about Sunita Williams’ health and that of other astronauts, a NASA spokesperson told the Daily Mail that all NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station are in “good health” and undergo routine medical evaluations. They also have dedicated flight surgeons monitoring them.

 

A recent study conducted by planetary scientists at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa suggests that life could potentially exist on Titan, Saturn’s largest moon.
The researchers propose that methane gas might be trapped beneath its thick ice crust, raising intriguing possibilities about the moon’s potential to support life.
This research not only highlights Titan’s unique geological features but also explores its capacity for hosting life forms.
‘This was very surprising’
The research team, led by scientist Lauren Schurmeier, observed that Titan’s impact craters are shallower than expected, with only 90 craters identified so far. “This was very surprising because, based on other moons, we expect to see many more impact craters on the surface and craters that are much deeper than what we observe on Titan,” Schurmeier explained.
The researchers found out that a unique process must be at play, causing these craters to become shallower and disappear more quickly than on other celestial bodies.
To investigate, the team employed computer modelling to calculate the thickness of a potential methane clathrate crust, believed to be between 5 to 10 kilometres (about 3 to 6 miles) thick. Schurmeier noted, “Using this modelling approach, we were able to constrain the methane clathrate crust thickness… because simulations using that thickness produced crater depths that best matched the observed craters.”
Possibility of life on Titan
Methane clathrate, a solid compound in which methane is trapped within water’s crystalline structure, could significantly influence Titan’s climate and carbon cycle. This insulating crust may keep the moon’s interior warm, suggesting an environment that could support life. If life exists in Titan’s subsurface ocean, any signs of it would need to be transported to the surface for discovery by future missions.
A unique environment
Titan is known for being one of the few objects in the solar system with a dense atmosphere and liquid bodies on its surface. The extreme cold means these liquids are composed of hydrocarbons like methane and ethane, with a surface largely made of solid water ice. Interestingly, humans would not need a pressure suit to walk on Titan’s surface, although an oxygen mask would be essential to withstand extremely low temperatures.
The Nasa Dragonfly mission to Titan is set to launch in July 2028 and arrive in 2034. This mission will allow researchers to closely observe Titan and explore its icy surface, including a crater called Selk.

Sharing a ground breaking development, Nasa recently announced re-connecting with the 47 year old long lost spacecraft Voyager 1, following years of radio silence. The spacecraft recently turned off one of its two radio transmitters and experts are currently working to uncover the cause.
According to the space agency, non-essential systems on the spacecraft are switched off if it draws too much power. However, it may take the team several days or even weeks to identify the root cause that triggered the fault protection system.
When NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory flight team in Southern California sends instructions to the spacecraft through the agency’s Deep Space Network, Voyager 1 sends back engineering data. The team then analyzes this information to assess how the spacecraft responded to the commands.
The two lone spacecraft, Voyagers 1 and 2, have been wandering in interstellar space for 47 years and are the sole two spacecraft there.
The Mirror Us reported that scientists believe the transmitter shut-off was initiated by the spacecraft’s fault protection system, which autonomously responds to onboard problems, however, the advanced age of these spacecraft has resulted in a rise in technical issues and new challenges for the mission engineering team.
It could take days or weeks for the team to pinpoint the root cause that activated the fault protection system. When the flight team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California sends instructions to the spacecraft via the agency’s Deep Space Network, Voyager 1 returns engineering data that the team evaluates to see how the spacecraft responded to the command.
It takes approximately 23 hours for the command to travel more than 15 billion miles from Earth to the spacecraft, followed by another 23 hours for the data to return, according to reports from the Manchester Evening News.
The flight team had issued a command to activate one of Voyager 1’s heaters on October 16. Despite having sufficient power for the heater, the command activated the fault protection system on the spacecraft.
The whole issue came to light when the Deep Space Network was unable to detect Voyager 1’s signal on October 18. The spacecraft communicates with Earth through an X-band radio transmitter, named after its specific frequency.
The flight team concluded that the protection system had reduced the transmitter’s rate of sending back data as this mode uses less power from the spacecraft. However, it also changes the X-band signal that the Deep Space Network needs to detect.
The signal was recorded later that day by engineers and the Voyager was reported to be stable.
However, on October 19, the communication ceased completely.
The flight team theorized that Voyager 1’s fault protection system had been triggered twice more, turning off the X-band transmitter and switching to a second radio transmitter known as the S-band. Although the S-band uses less power, Voyager 1 hasn’t used it to communicate with Earth since 1981.
The flight team speculated that Voyager 1’s fault protection system has activated on two additional occasions, leading to the shutdown of the X-band transmitter and a switch to the less commonly used S-band transmitter. While this alternative consumes less power, Voyager 1 has not utilized it for communication with Earth since 1981. Its signal is significantly weaker and operates on a different frequency than the X-band transmitters.
Because of the spacecraft’s immense distance, the flight team was uncertain if the S-band signal could be detected from Earth; however, engineers at the Deep Space Network successfully managed to locate it.
Rather than reactivating the X-band transmitter before determining what triggered the fault protection system, the team sent a command on October 22 to test the functionality of the S-band transmitter.
At present, data to assist with further understanding of the situation and work toward restoring Voyager 1 to its normal operations is being gathered.

NASA, known for its exploration of space and scientific endeavours, celebrated Diwali, the Festival of Lights, by sharing greetings on their official X account. This post included an awe-inspiring image taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, showcasing star formation in the Omega Nebula (M17), which visually represents the vast, luminous beauty of the universe. The message emphasised parallels between the wonder of the cosmos and the symbolic light of Diwali, stating, “Wishing you a joyful #Diwali! Just as the cosmos lights up our universe with endless wonder, Diwali illuminates our homes and hearts.” This highlighted NASA’s unique approach of merging cultural celebrations with scientific imagery.

Sunita Williams’ special Diwali message from space

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, stationed aboard the International Space Station (ISS), also extended her Diwali wishes through a video message. Speaking from space, she shared greetings with people celebrating in the U.S. and across the globe, adding a special mention of the White House festivities. Her message underscored the universal nature of Diwali, transcending Earthly boundaries, and showcased the connection between space exploration and personal celebrations.

Sunita Williams acknowledging the Indian-American community

Williams took the opportunity to express her appreciation to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their involvement in the White House Diwali celebrations. By recognizing the Indian-American community and their contributions, Williams underscored the importance of inclusivity and cultural respect at a national level. In her message, Williams reflected on Diwali’s deeper meaning, emphasising that it represents joy and the triumph of goodness. This sentiment aligns with the festival’s core values of hope, light, and victory over darkness, resonating with many communities around the world.

Tech leaders celebrate Diwali with heartfelt messages

The Diwali celebrations extended beyond NASA and space, as tech industry leaders also participated in the festivities. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet and Google, highlighted his personal affection for the holiday, noting its significance in bringing light into homes and lives. His message on Threads conveyed his warm wishes to those observing the festival.

Tim Cook’s Diwali tribute highlights unity and light

Apple CEO Tim Cook contributed to the celebrations by posting an artistic photo taken by Indian photographer Rohit Vohra, featuring traditional Diwali diyas on rose petals. His message on X, “Wishing everyone celebrating a joyous and peaceful Festival of Lights,” reinforced the themes of unity, hope, and light that Diwali embodies.
These greetings from prominent organisations and figures emphasise how Diwali’s message of light and hope resonates across various communities, industries, and even in space.
Also Read | Watch: NASA Rover Perseverance discovers a “googly eye” phenomenon on Mars and explore Phobos’ role in the search for life

Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun, has long fascinated scientists and space enthusiasts alike due to its potential to harbour life and its geological history. The Perseverance Rover, a key player in NASA‘s Mars exploration efforts, has been investigating the Martian surface since its landing in February 2021. Equipped with advanced scientific instruments, Perseverance aims to uncover the secrets of Mars, including the possibility of past life.
The recent observations made by the Perseverance Rover, including the captivating solar eclipse caused by Phobos, contribute significantly to our knowledge of Mars and its moons.
These findings enhance our understanding of the Martian environment and its geological history while fueling the search for signs of past life. As NASA continues to explore Mars, each discovery provides invaluable insights into the planet’s past, its current conditions, and the possibilities for future exploration. The study of Phobos and the ongoing research by Perseverance highlight the importance of robotic exploration in unravelling the mysteries of our solar system and beyond.

Perseverance captures a “googly eye” eclipse: Exploring Phobos’ transit and its scientific implications for Mars

Perseverance Rover recorded an extraordinary video of a partial solar eclipse as Phobos moved between the Sun and Mars. This rare event resulted in a striking visual effect that NASA described as a “googly eye.” In the footage, Phobos appears as the pupil, and the Sun acts as the iris, creating a whimsical analogy. This moment occurred on the Rover’s 1,285th day on Mars, showcasing Perseverance’s ability to document significant astronomical occurrences.

The significance of this capture extends beyond mere aesthetics; it highlights the Rover’s scientific capabilities and its role in monitoring and understanding the dynamic relationship between Mars and its moons. The ability to observe such events provides valuable data about Phobos’ orbit and its interactions with solar radiation, contributing to a deeper understanding of both the moon and Mars itself.

Previous observations of Phobos

Perseverance’s observation of Phobos is not an isolated incident. Other Mars missions have also documented transits of this moon. The Curiosity Rover captured a video of Phobos in 2019, while the Opportunity Rover took an image back in 2004. These earlier observations have paved the way for a more comprehensive understanding of Phobos’ behaviour and its significance in the Martian environment.

Understanding Phobos

Phobos is one of two moons orbiting Mars, the other being Deimos. Discovered in 1877 by astronomer Asaph Hall, Phobos is named after the Greek god of fear, which is fitting given its connection to Mars, the god of war. The moon is irregularly shaped, measuring approximately 27 kilometres long, 22 kilometres wide, and 18 kilometres high. Its potato-like form contrasts sharply with the more spherical shapes of larger moons in the solar system.
Phobos orbits Mars at an astonishing speed, completing three full orbits in just one Martian day (about 11 hours). This rapid orbit places it so close to the planet’s surface that there are locations on Mars where Phobos may not be visible at all. The proximity of Phobos to Mars is not just a curiosity; it has serious implications for the moon’s future.

The future of Phobos and the Cheyava falls discovery: Insights into Mars’ potential for life and geological evolution

Phobos is gradually moving closer to Mars, advancing at a rate of about six feet (1.8 metres) every century. This slow but steady approach raises the possibility that, in approximately 50 million years, Phobos may either collide with Mars or break apart, forming a ring around the planet. This potential for future interaction between the moon and the planet offers scientists an intriguing avenue for research, as understanding these dynamics could reveal important information about the formation and evolution of planetary bodies in our solar system.
In addition to documenting Phobos’ transits, Perseverance has been conducting scientific investigations of the Martian surface. In July 2024, the Rover discovered a rock sample nicknamed “Cheyava Falls.” This sample is particularly noteworthy because it contains organic molecules and structures that could indicate the presence of microbial life. NASA posits that these chemical signatures and structures may have formed billions of years ago, during a period when Mars had running water, creating conditions that could support life.
The implications of this discovery are profound. If these organic molecules are indeed linked to past life, they could reshape our understanding of Mars as a once-habitable planet. The ongoing analysis of such samples will be crucial for assessing the planet’s geological history and its potential to support life.

China on the early hours of Wednesday completed the successful launch of Shenzhou-19 spacecraft, carrying a three-person crew to the Tiangong space station. The spacecraft took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China at 4.27am (local time), propelled by a Long March-2F rocket, a key component of the nation’s crewed missions. State broadcaster China Central Television confirmed the launch as a “complete success,” reporting that all crew members were in good condition.
During their time aboard Tiangong, the crew will conduct various experiments, including tests involving “bricks” made from materials mimicking lunar soil. These components are scheduled to arrive via the Tianzhou-8 cargo ship next month, and scientists hope to explore their viability for constructing a future lunar base. The Shenzhou-19 mission is seen as a crucial step in accumulating experience for future deep-space missions.

The new crew is also tasked with performing spacewalks and installing protective equipment to safeguard the space station from orbital debris. Notably, some of this debris results from previous Chinese missions. NASA has reported that significant debris in orbit has been generated from satellite collisions and explosions, including China’s deliberate destruction of a redundant satellite in 2007.
The Shenzhou-19 team is led by commander Cai Xuzhe, a 48-year-old former air force pilot with prior spaceflight experience from the Shenzhou-14 mission in 2022. Joining him are Song Lingdong, a 34-year-old rookie astronaut and former air force pilot, and Wang Haoze, also 34, who is China’s only female spaceflight engineer and the third Chinese woman to embark on a crewed mission. Wang expressed her aspirations, saying, “I want to meticulously complete each task and protect our home in space.”
The mission reflects China’s ambitions in space exploration, particularly its goal of landing astronauts on the Moon by 2030 and establishing a lunar base. The crew of Shenzhou-19 will replace the current occupants of the Tiangong station, who have been aboard for six months and are set to return on November 4.

Nasa’s Crew-8 mission has safely returned to Earth after 236 days in space. The team, consisting of Nasa astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, successfully splashed down off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, marking the end of their extensive mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, which carried the crew back to Earth, completed its deorbit burn as planned, with splashdown confirmed at 3.29am EDT. The mission saw the crew orbit Earth 3,776 times, covering an impressive distance of approximately 100 million miles. During their time aboard the ISS, they witnessed the arrival and departure of eight spacecraft, reflecting the ongoing operations at the station.

Smooth descent and landing
The final phase of the crew’s return proceeded smoothly. At around 18,000 feet in altitude, the drogue parachutes were deployed, slowing the spacecraft from 350 miles per hour. Shortly after, the main parachutes were deployed at 6,000 feet, further decelerating the spacecraft to a safe speed of 119 miles per hour, ensuring a controlled and secure splashdown.
The crew had undocked from the ISS’s Harmony module earlier, at 5.05pm EDT, beginning their journey back home aboard the Dragon spacecraft.
What is SpaceX’s Dragon?
SpaceX’s Dragon is capable of carrying up to seven passengers to and from orbit. It remains the only operational spacecraft capable of returning significant cargo back to Earth. The Dragon made history as the first privately developed spacecraft to transport humans to the space station.
Equipped with two drogue and four main parachutes, the Dragon ensures a safe reentry and descent for its crew, maintaining SpaceX’s reputation for reliable and efficient spacecraft operations.

Nasa has revealed the first look of a full-scale prototype for six telescopes that will enable, in the next decade, the space-based detection of gravitational waves—ripples in space-time caused by merging black holes and other cosmic sources.
This advancement is part of the LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) mission, a collaborative effort between Nasa and the European Space Agency (ESA). The mission will utilize an array of spacecraft to measure minuscule changes in distance—down to picometers, or trillionths of a meter—across a vast configuration larger than the Sun itself. The triangular formation of spacecraft will span approximately 1.6 million miles (2.5 million kilometers) on each side.
Highlighting the crucial role of twin telescopes aboard each spacecraft, Ryan DeRosa, a researcher at Nasa’s Goddard Space Flight Center said, “Twin telescopes aboard each spacecraft will both transmit and receive infrared laser beams to track their companions, and Nasa is supplying all six of them to the LISA mission.”
Central to this initiative is the Engineering Development Unit Telescope, a prototype designed to inform the construction of the mission’s flight hardware. Manufactured and assembled by L3Harris Technologies in Rochester, New York, the prototype arrived at Goddard in May. Its primary mirror is coated in gold, enhancing the reflection of infrared lasers and minimizing heat loss in the cold vacuum of space. This feature is vital, as the telescope is optimized to function near room temperature.
The Engineering Development Unit Telescope is crafted entirely from a specialized amber-colored glass-ceramic known as Zerodur, produced by Schott in Mainz, Germany. This material is renowned for its thermal stability, ensuring minimal shape distortion over a wide range of temperatures—a critical characteristic for high-precision optical applications.
The LISA mission is set to launch in the mid-2030s, promising to expand understanding by exploring gravitational waves, which are ripples in spacetime caused by cataclysmic events like merging black holes and neutron stars.

Astronomers have uncovered something surprising while looking 13 billion years into the past using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). They’ve spotted supermassive black hole-powered quasars that appear to be hanging out in isolation. This is odd because, according to current theories, black holes need to be surrounded by a lot of material to grow quickly. But these quasars seem to be in areas with little to no fuel to support such growth, leaving scientists scratching their heads.

Unusual Quasar Fields

A team led by Anna-Christina Eilers, an assistant professor of physics at MIT, studied five of the earliest known quasars. While some were in environments packed with matter, others were almost empty, which was unexpected. Typically, quasars need dense surroundings to grow their black holes, but these particular ones seem to be growing without the usual supply of gas and dust. As Eilers put it, “It’s difficult to explain how these quasars grew so massive if there’s nothing nearby to feed them.”
Challenges to Black Hole Growth Theories

In the present universe, supermassive black holes sit at the center of galaxies and feed on surrounding matter, creating the bright phenomenon we know as quasars. The newly discovered quasars, however, appear to lack the necessary resources. This raises a big question: how did these black holes grow so fast in such a short time? Right now, the existing theories about black hole formation don’t seem to explain what the JWST is showing.

The Next Steps

This discovery raises more questions than it answers. The team thinks it’s possible that some of these seemingly “empty” quasar fields might actually be hiding material behind cosmic dust. They’re now planning to tweak their observations to see if they can find what’s been missed. What’s clear is that we’re still far from understanding how these supermassive black holes came to be so early in the universe’s history.