The news of astronaut Sunita Williams being stuck in space has made quite the headlines across the globe for quite some time now. But not all of us are quite aware of the complete story behind it, aren't we? For some, this might just be a regular headline on the news for some but for the rest of the globe especially for the family of well-wishers of Sunita, it is a matter of great concern.
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| Source - Indiatimes |
When the Journey took a Turn
In July 2015, Williams was assigned to take part in the first commercial space flights of the USA by NASA. Along with this, she was busy working with organizations such as Boeing and SpaceX in order to train with their commercial crew vehicles along with the respective chosen astronauts. It was on July 16, 2022 when NASA confirmed that the Boeing Crew Flight Test (CFT) or the first in the list of operational Starliner missions would be a two-person mission consisting of Williams and fellow astronaut Barry Willmore. Interesting,isn't it? June 5,2024 marked the beginning of history being made in the form of Sunita being the first woman to fly on a flight test of an orbital spacecraft such as the Starliner-1 being its pilot but the story didn't just end right here.
It was on August 17,2024 where technical issues prevailing over the Boeing Starliner’s service module halted her return back to Earth even though the original time duration of the trip was only within eight days. Even though they are expected to stay in the ISS until February 2025, it is quite hard to wonder why NASA, one of the biggest and experienced space agencies of the world, couldn't bring both the astronauts back to Earth immediately on another spacecraft.
Plethora of Risks Involved
Continuous thruster failures and helium leaks on the Starliner capsule are some of the most persistent issues faced by Sunita Williams and Barry Willmore on board the ISS. After detecting a toxic smell from a newly docked Russian cargo, the ISS had activated safety protocols in time and ensured that the air quality returned to stability. As concerning as this is, the good news is that they are neither technically stuck nor are they alone as of now. It is because of the sufficient availability of essentials aboard the ISS. But it is necessary to realize that emergencies can occur any time. Especially in the worst-case scenario, the empty crew capsules are available in handy which in turn are designed to act as lifeboats or life-savers in general when needed.We can believe that the spacecraft, the SpaceX Crew Dragon will finally be able to bring both the astronauts back home.
Importance of Mental and Emotional Well-Being
Mental and emotional well-being is one of the biggest challenges faced by astronauts during their time in space. Feelings of loneliness and cabin fever can often take place especially due to the limited social interaction of living in the confined areas of the ISS. Ignorance in this aspect can in turn lead to serious issues related to depression, anxiety, decision-making, and cognitive performance etc. This topic deserves the same level of importance as that of the physical health of the astronauts. But by prioritizing these aspects, NASA has assured that the space agency will provide the necessary psychological support services for both the astronauts and their respective families in this crucial time. From the cargo resupply missions taken care of by NASA, the astronauts can now receive crew care packages especially during the times of need.
Wishes for the Safe Return
It is important to realize that the entire space community of NASA along with the people on Earth wish to see their safe return without any further harm or distress. In these times, we must pray to ensure that they stay safe and return home safely to their families as they are human beings filled with emotions, dreams and responsibilities as any of us are. By keeping them in our respective thoughts and prayers, we must trust in the collective efforts of the ground team at NASA working tirelessly to bring them back home safely or in simple words, in order to ensure their safe return.
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