Washington: Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams, who will remain in space until early next year, is “growing plants” on the International Space Station (ISS). Williams and the other astronauts, who were due to return in eight days, are now stuck in space until February 2025.
What is Sunita Williams doing in space?
In response to questions surrounding Sunita Williams’ work while stranded on the International Space Station (ISS), NASA said in a statement that her to-do list includes a lot of work, from scientific experiments to growing plants.
NASA’s statement on what Sunita Williams is doing in space says: “Providing adequate water and nutrition to plants grown in space is critical as missions expand into low Earth orbit and beyond, to the Moon and eventually Mars.”
The constant to-do list includes toilet repairs
Former NASA astronaut Terry Virts told a major media outlet that astronauts in space have a constant to-do list that also includes fixing toilets.
Virts said: “There is a constant to-do list. Literally every day of your life on the space station, or almost every day, there will be some kind of maintenance. Fixing the toilet or changing a fan or a light bulb.”
Does Sunita Williams have enough food and oxygen in space?
NASA has answered the question of whether there is enough food and oxygen for Sunita Williams on the ISS after her eight-day mission turned into an eight-month one.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said in a statement: “The space station is well equipped with everything the crew needs, including food, water, clothing and oxygen.”
NASA has also confirmed that regular resupply missions will ensure that astronauts’ basic demands and requirements are met.
When and how will Sunita Williams return to Earth?
Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams will return on a SpaceX spacecraft in February.
Its empty Starliner capsule will undock in a week or two and attempt to return on autopilot.
The SpaceX Crew Dragon is set to launch into space in September of this year and is expected to return in February 2025.
The astronauts stranded on the ISS, including Sunita Williams, are expected to return to Earth on the SpaceX plane, meaning they will have to spend six more months there.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said the decision to send the Boeing capsule back to Earth empty “is the result of a commitment to safety.”
Boeing had insisted that Starliner was safe based on recent thruster testing both in space and on the ground.
(AP contributions)
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