Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for nearly six months due to technical issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft. As per a report by The New York Post, while the health and diet of the astronauts are being closely monitored, the International Space Station (ISS) is also carefully managing water usage to prevent wastage. Their urine and sweat are being recycled into fresh water. Additionally, dishes such as dehydrated soups, stews, and casseroles, which require water, are prepared using the space station’s 530-gallon fresh water tank.
NASA insisted stranded astronaut Sunita Williams is safe & healthy amid growing public concern for her health
The photo showed her looking ‘gaunt’, suggesting she had lost a significant amount of weight after spending more than 150 days stuck on the International Space Station. pic.twitter.com/vFEEkfVgDK
— AstroNana (@ImAstroNana) November 9, 2024
The report further noted that the astronauts are enjoying luxurious meals like shrimp cocktails and pizza. However, with fresh food supplies running low, their nutrition is being closely monitored by space experts as they navigate the challenges of space food.
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Originally scheduled for an eight-day mission, their stay has been extended for over 160 days, impacting their health and appearance. A specialist involved with the Starliner mission told The New York Post that the astronauts are enjoying a variety of meals, while medical teams ensure they are receiving adequate calories. However, the food, developed at the Space Food Systems Laboratory at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, is limited in fresh fruits and vegetables.
Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams flies to space for 3rd time#SunitaWilliams | #NASA | #BoeingStarliner pic.twitter.com/Nnu06pNq6N
— DD News (@DDNewslive) June 6, 2024
It was revealed that ISS only replenishes produce every three months. NASA explains that while fresh fruit is available at the start of a mission, it is replaced by packaged or freeze-dried fruits and vegetables as time goes on. The ISS stocks about 3.8 pounds (1.72 kg) of food per astronaut daily, with extra supplies for mission extensions. The food is personalized to meet each astronaut’s needs and is typically freeze-dried or packaged, ready to be reheated using a food warmer.
The specialist told the publication that Williams has struggled to maintain the high-calorie diet required for astronauts aboard the ISS. He added, “The pounds have melted off her and she’s now skin and bones. So it’s a priority to help her stabilize the weight loss and hopefully reverse it.”
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