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.

 

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.
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An independent hacker has publicly revealed a second breach of NASA‘s systems, uncovering significant security vulnerabilities. The hacker, who shared the news on X, claimed to have reported the issues directly to NASA, allowing the agency time to address these security concerns.

NASA acknowledges hacker’s contributions with appreciation letter after vulnerability report

He stated, “I hacked @NASA (again) and reported some vulnerabilities to them.Just today, I received this appreciation letter from them after they patched the loopholes!”

In response, NASA acknowledged the vulnerabilities and sent an appreciation letter to the hacker. Signed by Mark Witt, NASA’s Chief Information Officer, the letter commended the hacker for identifying critical vulnerabilities and assisting in the protection of NASA’s systems. The agency expressed gratitude for the hacker’s role in maintaining the “integrity and availability” of its information infrastructure.
The letter stated, “On behalf of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and NASA’s Vulnerability Disclosure Policy (VDP), we want to recognize your efforts as an independent security researcher in identifying the vulnerability you reported and for responsibly following our VDP guidelines.”

Community responds with praise and humour for hacker’s achievement

Many users on X praised the hacker’s achievement, with one remarking, “That’s worth at least as much as a degree LOL,” and another saying, “Good work, mate.” One user commented, “Very nice, congratulations! Also very honest to report it to them,” while another noted, “Good on NASA for rewarding security researchers instead of punishing them with legal action—it’s really in their best interest.”
Some users also shared lighthearted comments, with one joking, “They didn’t even give you a ‘I hacked NASA and all I got was this lousy T-Shirt’ shirt?” and another saying, “So hacking NASA is not just a meme haha, great job!”

SpaceX mission update

In other news, the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule has successfully docked with the ISS and is set to return stranded NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to Earth in February 2025.
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Nasa is set to launch the SpaceX Crew-9 mission on Saturday, which will bring astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore back to Earth after their extended stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS) since June. The spacecraft is scheduled to launch at 1:17 pm EDT (10:47 pm IST) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Live coverage of the launch will begin at 9:00 am EDT (6:30 pm IST) on Nasa’‘s official website, NASA+, and YouTube.The Crew-9 mission will be the first crewed launch from Space Launch Complex-40.
The spacecraft is set to dock with the ISS around 5:30 pm EDT (3:00 am IST) on Monday.
The Crew-9 mission is part of Nasa’s Commercial Crew Program. It includes Nasa astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. Originally scheduled for September 26, the launch was delayed due to Hurricane Helene hitting Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Nasa posted on X that managers from Nasa and SpaceX were discussing the planned September 28 launch of the Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station, along with a weather update provided by Space Launch Delta 45.

In another post on X, Nasa mentioned a live panel on the International Space Station with Nasa leaders, where they would answer questions from digital creators attending the Crew-9 Nasa Social event, as well as questions submitted online using the hashtag #AskNASA.

The mission aims to transport Hague and Gorbunov to the ISS for a five-month stay and ensure the safe return of Williams and Wilmore. Hague and Gorbunov will stay on the ISS until February, coinciding with the next crew rotation. Astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson were also initially part of the Crew-9 mission but were removed to make room for the returning astronauts.
Williams and Wilmore traveled to the ISS in June on Boeing’s Starliner capsule for an eight-day mission. However, their stay was extended due to issues with the Starliner’s thrusters. Nasa then return the Starliner uncrewed on September 7 for further assessment.

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft has left the International Space Station (ISS) and is on its way back to Earth. However, its scheduled return doesn’t involve the two astronauts who initially traveled to the ISS in the capsule — Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore — due to ongoing technical issues. The capsule is expected to land in the New Mexico desert after a six-hour flight, marking another chapter in the troubled history of Boeing’s astronaut transport system.

Starliner’s Uncrewed Return

On Friday, the Boeing Starliner undocked from the ISS, pushed away by springs, and began its return to Earth. The capsule was supposed to carry Williams and Wilmore back after their mission, but technical malfunctions, including thruster failures and helium leaks, led NASA to deem the return flight too risky for human transport. As a result, Starliner is making its journey back with no astronauts aboard, leaving empty seats and unused blue spacesuits behind.

Williams, speaking to Boeing’s Mission Control, bid farewell to the spacecraft with the words, “Bring her back to Earth. Good luck,” as Starliner began its descent.

Technical Problems Prevented Crew Return

Williams and Wilmore originally planned to return to Earth in June, following a scheduled eight-day mission that would have seen Starliner carry them safely back. However, shortly after the June 5 launch, the mission was marred by several issues. Small helium leaks were discovered before launch but were deemed manageable. Yet, during the mission, five thrusters failed, sparking concerns that more malfunctions could jeopardize a safe reentry.

Although Boeing conducted numerous tests, both in space and on the ground, throughout the summer to address the thruster problems, NASA ultimately decided it was too dangerous to bring the astronauts back in the Starliner.

SpaceX to Bring Astronauts Home in 2025

With Boeing’s capsule out of commission, NASA has tasked SpaceX with returning Williams and Wilmore to Earth. The duo, now full-time members of the ISS crew, are expected to return via SpaceX’s Dragon capsule in late February 2025. This means their original eight-day mission has now extended to more than eight months in space.

SpaceX’s upcoming flight will mark its tenth crewed mission for NASA since 2020. The Dragon capsule will launch two astronauts for a half-year expedition, with two additional seats reserved for Wilmore and Williams for their return journey.