NASA has reassured the public that astronaut Sunita Williams, 59, and her colleagues aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are in good health, following concerns regarding her appearance after more than 150 days in space. Reports indicated significant weight loss, prompting discussions about her well-being.
NASA spokesperson Jimi Russell stated, "All NASA astronauts aboard the ISS undergo regular medical check-ups, monitored by specialized flight surgeons, and they are healthy." This statement comes in the wake of worries that arose less than two weeks after four NASA astronauts were hospitalized following their return from a mission on October 25.
One astronaut was hospitalized overnight due to unspecified medical issues, while the other three were released the same day after medical evaluations. NASA has declined to provide details regarding the hospitalization, citing the need to protect the medical privacy of the crew member involved.
The Crew-8 team, which included NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, along with Russian cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, spent 232 days aboard the ISS. Studies have shown that prolonged space missions can adversely affect human health, including loss of muscle mass, bone density, and increased radiation exposure.
Experts warn that these factors may lead to various health issues, such as vision problems and kidney stones, and may increase astronauts' susceptibility to infections. NASA's decision to withhold specific details about the hospitalized astronaut has raised further questions about the health impacts of extended space travel.
Notably, Williams and astronaut Barry Wilmore experienced a delay in their return due to a malfunctioning Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which was unable to bring them back to Earth on schedule. Their return is now planned for February 2015.