Boeing Starliner Astronaut Sunita Williams is facing health issues abroad at the International Space Station. Bone loss and eyesight issues are troubling Sunita Williams.
The Starliner crew: Sunita Williams and Butch Willmore have been stranded in space for months. The Boeing Starliner’s first crewed flight test was docked to the ISS on June 6 at 1:34 p.m. EDT.
The 8-day-long mission, which aimed to test the new Boeing Starliner capsule, has stretched to a months-long mission due to multiple helium leaks and thruster issues detected on the Starliner spacecraft.
Due to this unplanned delay, the astronauts are now facing health risks. Reportedly, Sunita Williams is facing eyesight issues linked to prolonged exposure to microgravity.
The condition is known as Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS). This affects the fluid distribution in the body, leading to blurry vision and changes in the structure of the eyes. Eye tests and scans are being carried out on Sunita Williams to diagnose the issue.
This causes urgency to find a solution for the astronaut’s safe return to Earth. While Boeing and NASA engineers are searching for ways to repair the spacecraft, NASA is now considering bringing the astronauts back abroad with the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. The SpaceX Crew Dragon mission is set to launch on the iSS around the end of September this year.
Read: NASA: Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams to be brought back on SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft
Crew Dragon will return to Earth in February 2025. This makes the 8-day test flight an 8-month space stay. Boeing is facing serious criticism as the mission delay is costing millions of dollars.
However, the concerns don’t end here. The port, which is currently occupied by the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, has to be free for the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft to dock. Boeing has stated that it will configure the Starliner capsule for an unconfirmed return.
Also, the spacesuits designed for Starliner are not fit for the SpaceX Dragon Capsule. This will make the astronauts get onboard Dragon without their spacesuits, which raises serious safety concerns. NASA is also considering sending the spacesuits with the Crew Dragon Mission to ensure the astronaut’s safe return.
