NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams safely returned to Earth on Tuesday (US local time), splashing down off Florida’s coast in a SpaceX capsule. Their return came nine months after their planned week-long stay on the ISS was disrupted due to issues with Boeing’s Starliner craft.
The International Space Station (ISS) is 254 miles (409 km) above Earth and has hosted astronauts from many countries for almost 25 years. The US and Russia mostly manage the ISS, which is about the size of a football field. It is an important place for scientists from around the world to work together.
Challenges of Living in Space
Living in space for months causes physical problems, such as muscle and bone loss, changes in body fluids that can lead to kidney stones, vision problems, and trouble with balance when returning to Earth’s gravity. NASA carefully studies and manages these effects.
Experienced Astronauts and Training
Both astronauts were experienced members of the ISS crew. Before launching, they updated their training on how to work on the space station.
Three months into their stay, Williams became the commander of the ISS and held this important role until earlier this month.
What did they eat and how did they survive for 9 months in space?
On November 18 last year, The New York Post shared that NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams had been eating pizza, roast chicken, and shrimp cocktails while on the International Space Station (ISS).
Limited Fresh Food: A source close to the Boeing Starliner mission problems said the astronauts had very little fresh produce to help keep their diet healthy.
Variety of Food: According to an expert, the astronauts ate foods like breakfast cereal with powdered milk, pizza, roast chicken, shrimp cocktails, and tuna. NASA doctors kept track of their calorie intake.
NASA Image: A picture from NASA, released on September 9, showed Wilmore and Williams eating on the ISS, with some of these foods visible.
Fresh Food Depletion: The insider explained that fresh fruits and vegetables were available at first, but they ran out after three months. “There’s fresh fruit at first, but as the three months continues that goes away — and their fruits and vegetables are packaged or freeze-dried,” the insider said in November last year.
Food Preparation: All meat and eggs were cooked on Earth and just needed to be reheated. Dehydrated foods like soups, stews, and casseroles were mixed with water from the ISS’s 530-gallon fresh water tank. The station also recycles astronauts’ urine and sweat into fresh water for drinking.
Weight Loss Concerns: The specialist said that any weight loss wasn’t caused by a lack of food on the ISS. “So to be accurate, it should be very clear that any weight loss is not due to a lack of provisions on the ISS. There is plenty of food, even for an extended mission.” The ISS is stocked with about 3.8 pounds of food per astronaut per day, plus extra supplies for unexpected mission delays.
Astronaut Backgrounds
Both Wilmore and Williams are Navy test pilots who later became astronauts at NASA.
- Wilmore’s Background: At 62 years old, Wilmore played football in high school and college in Tennessee.
- Williams’ Background: At 59 years old, Williams was a competitive swimmer and long-distance runner from Needham, Massachusetts.
Personal Lives in Space
- Wilmore’s Family: Wilmore missed most of his younger daughter’s final year of high school while in space.
- Williams’ Connection: Williams stayed in touch with her husband, mother, and other family members through internet calls while she was in space.
