NASA astronaut Sunita Williams spent nearly 300 days aboard the International Space Station, conducting vital research and breaking spacewalking records. Her missions included plant growth experiments, water recovery studies, and over 62 hours of spacewalks.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Imagine being stranded in space for almost 300 days.
00:04For Indian origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, that became a reality.
00:08From groundbreaking experiments to record-breaking spacewalks,
00:11her journey aboard the ISS has left an indelible mark on the future of space exploration.
00:15Here's a report.
00:17What would you do if you were stranded in space for almost 300 days?
00:34Imagine floating 400 kilometers above Earth, facing challenges you never thought possible.
00:44For Indian origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, this scenario became a reality.
00:50But what exactly has Sunita done in space during this extended time?
01:02From growing lettuce in space to conducting groundbreaking experiments,
01:06Williams has been busy.
01:11As part of NASA's plant growth research, she helped study how plants thrive in space,
01:17focusing on how varying conditions impact plant growth.
01:21Williams also made history by breaking spacewalking records,
01:25spending over 62 hours outside the International Space Station.
01:34She also helped set up the Packed Bed React experiment,
01:38studying how to improve water recovery and heat management in space.
01:44The advancements could be crucial for long-term missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond.
01:52While it is a far cry from the space adventure we imagine,
01:56with over 900 hours of research and numerous record-breaking achievements,
02:01Williams' time in space has made history.
02:09Sunita Williams has not just survived in space,
02:13she has led vital research that will shape the future of space travel.
02:18Bureau report, India Today.
02:24Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were returning after nine months,
02:28have once again been delayed.
02:30But it won't be an easy homecoming for them.
02:32They are likely to experience severe physical and psychological challenges
02:36as they readjust to Earth's gravity after an extended stay in space.
02:40Here's a report.
02:52A 10-day space odyssey that ended up lasting almost 10 months.
02:57But it will not be a normal homecoming.
03:00Williams and Wilmore will face difficulties to adapt to Earth's gravity.
03:05The two may experience baby feet after extended space travel,
03:10which means they will lose the thick part of their skin
03:13as weightlessness causes food calluses to diminish.
03:17They may experience dizziness, vertigo and difficulty walking for the first few days.
03:23Even though astronauts exercise in space,
03:26muscles, especially in the legs and back, weaken due to reduced use.
03:30Prolonged weightlessness leads to bone density loss, increasing the risk of fractures.
03:36In space, fluids shift upwards and the heart does not have to work as hard to pump blood.
03:42They will require a period of cardiovascular recovery.
03:45They might experience spatial disorientation
03:48as the brain readjusts to the constant downward pull of gravity.
03:53To counter these effects, NASA and other space agencies have extensive rehabilitation programs
04:00involving physical therapy, medical monitoring and gradual reconditioning.
04:05After coming back from space, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will take weeks to acclimatize.
04:12Bureau Report, India Today.