Final week, media retailers corresponding to The New York Publish and The Every day Mail reported that astronaut Suni Williams, who’s aboard the Worldwide Area Station, was experiencing well being points. Then, on Wednesday (Nov. 13), there have been additionally comparable rumors about her fellow astronaut, Butch Wilmore.
In response to the claims about Suni Williams, each NASA and Williams confirmed that she is doing effectively. Now, following comparable rumors about Butch Wilmore, NASA has as soon as once more addressed the scenario.
“The astronauts are in glorious well being and doing nice,” stated Dr. J.D. Polk, NASA’s chief well being and medical officer, in an interview with Area.com. “I need to put that rumor to relaxation immediately.”
“I’d hope that the NASA Chief Medical Officer is seen as a dependable and knowledgeable supply,” Dr. Polk stated.
Hypothesis about Suni Williams’ well being appears to have come from latest images shared by NASA. Dr. Vinay Gupta, a lung specialist not related to NASA, instructed The Every day Mail that Williams’ cheeks look “sunken” and recommended that the pictures present somebody coping with the pure results of residing at excessive altitudes, even in a pressurized atmosphere, for a very long time, in response to Area.com.
Fluid Shifts and “Sunken” Faces in Area
Within the microgravity atmosphere of the Worldwide Area Station (ISS), there is no such thing as a gravity to tug fluids down towards the decrease physique. This causes bodily fluids, like blood, to shift upward towards the pinnacle. Initially, this shift can result in facial swelling. Over time, the physique adjusts by decreasing fluid quantity, which may end up in a lack of facial fullness, making astronauts’ cheeks seem thinner or “sunken.”
Though the ISS orbits at an altitude of round 400 kilometers, it’s pressurized to take care of situations just like Earth’s environment. The inner stress of the ISS is stored at round 101.three kPa (14.7 psi) , which is roughly the identical as sea degree on Earth. This ensures a breathable atmosphere for astronauts, however the microgravity nonetheless causes fluid shifts, affecting their look and bodily features.
What Does Microgravity Imply?
Microgravity refers back to the situation the place objects or folks appear weightless. It occurs in house, together with on the Worldwide Area Station (ISS), as a result of the station is orbiting Earth. Though gravity nonetheless exists on the ISS (about 90% as robust as on Earth), the station strikes at a pace of round 28,000 kilometers per hour (17,500 miles per hour) .
The phrase “fall round Earth” implies that the ISS is consistently being pulled towards Earth by gravity, identical to the rest. Nonetheless, as a result of it is shifting so quick sideways (in orbit), it retains lacking Earth. So as an alternative of crashing, it stays in a steady freefall across the planet. This steadiness between gravity pulling the station towards Earth and its excessive pace shifting it ahead means it stays in orbit. This creates the feeling of weightlessness for astronauts inside, as each they and the station are falling on the similar fee.
NASA Screens Astronauts’ Well being Carefully
Each this outlet and The New York Publish talked about that Suni Williams appeared “gaunt” (skinny or tired-looking). Nonetheless, throughout a video interview from the ISS on Nov. 12, Williams addressed this by saying, “I am the identical weight as after I arrived right here.”
NASA’s chief medical officer confirmed the very fact in regards to the astronauts’ weight. “There’s fluid shifting within the physique, and astronauts are doing an hour of cardio train and an hour of energy coaching every day,” Polk defined.
So, with out query, the fluid shifts and different adjustments within the physique can have an effect on how they appear, however their weight hasn’t modified, and their health is definitely enhancing.
“I can positively see that weightlifting, which I don’t often do typically, has made a distinction,” Williams stated in her video interview, referring to the required workout routines astronauts do whereas residing in microgravity for lengthy intervals.”My thighs have gotten a bit larger, and my butt is a bit larger,” she stated, however emphasised, “I nonetheless weigh the identical.”
NASA has a number of strategies to verify astronauts keep wholesome whereas on the house station. “We intently observe their train, diet, and total well being,” Polk stated. “The flight surgeons additionally maintain a non-public medical convention with the astronauts as soon as per week. So, you’ll be able to think about, they’ve common contact with their physician each week.”
Dr. Polk went on to clarify that the astronauts on the ISS even have one thing referred to as an “IP cellphone,” or Web Protocol cellphone:”If they’ve a query outdoors common hours, they will simply decide up the cellphone and name. This offers us glorious perception into their well being, train, and food plan,” Polk defined.
NASA Dismisses Astronaut Well being Issues
Concerning the rumors about Wilmore, The New York Publish ran an article on Nov. 13 titled “NASA watching second stranded astronaut’s attainable weight reduction after considerations about Sunita Williams’ well being.”
The New York Publish reported that an unnamed NASA worker, who’s “concerned with the mission,” claimed that Wilmore “has additionally been shedding physique mass.” Nonetheless, the supply added that since Wilmore “began with extra mass,” it isn’t “as a lot of a priority.” The article additionally repeated that Williams appeared “extraordinarily gaunt” within the launched images and included a picture of her, with a caption stating that NASA is “serving to astronaut Sunita Williams acquire weight after she skilled vital weight reduction.”
Nonetheless, Polk said, “I can guarantee you that each astronauts nonetheless weigh the identical […] there aren’t any bodily adjustments that concern me.”
He added, “In 65 years of human spaceflight, we have by no means needed to deliver anybody again to Earth for a medical situation. That is a fairly spectacular document.”
NASA Addresses Stranded Astronaut Rumors
It is vital to say that calling Williams and Wilmore “stranded” is not completely correct. Each traveled to the ISS in June aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft throughout its first crewed flight take a look at, referred to as Crew Flight Check (CFT)
The mission was initially deliberate to final round 10 days, however issues with Starliner’s propulsion system brought on it to be prolonged.
There was some uncertainty for some time, as NASA didn’t instantly reveal a backup plan for Williams and Wilmore. This uncertainty led to the “stranded astronaut” rumors. Nonetheless, a plan for his or her return was ultimately created.
Williams and Wilmore are scheduled to return to Earth in February 2025 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, together with two astronauts from the Crew-9 mission, who arrived on the ISS in September. NASA has confirmed that there are many provides on the house station to help all astronauts till their deliberate return.
Different astronauts presently on the ISS embrace NASA’s Don Pettit and Nick Hague, together with Russian cosmonauts Aleksandr Gorbunov, Aleksey Ovchinin, and Ivan Vagner.
The Starliner capsule returned to Earth empty on September 6, and its crew members will quickly observe it again dwelling.
(Girish Linganna is a Defence and Aerospace Analyst based mostly out of Bengaluru. He’s additionally Director of ADD Engineering Parts, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. The views expressed on this article are of the creator solely.)
