Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams’ return to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) has been delayed again. The 59-year-old veteran astronaut will now return after March 2025, according to NASA. The space agency assured that the crew aboard the ISS, including Williams, is healthy and safe.
The delay stems from the unavailability of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, which is now scheduled for launch no earlier than late March. Initially, Williams was expected to return in February 2025, but the timeline has shifted further due to safety issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft that took her to the ISS in June.
Extended stays in space come with unique challenges for the human body, which is designed for Earth’s gravity. In the near-zero-gravity environment of the ISS, astronauts can lose bone density, making their bones brittle. Additionally, muscles lose mass as they are not used for weight-bearing activities. Other organs, including the heart, liver, and eyes, also experience changes. Fortunately, most of these effects are reversible once astronauts return to Earth and undergo rehabilitation.
Sunita Williams’ third space mission. She has already spent over 517 days in space during her career. At one time, she held the record for the most hours spent on spacewalks, logging more than 51 hours of extra-vehicular activity (EVA).
Williams traveled to the ISS aboard the Boeing Starliner in June 2024 for what was initially planned as a short 7-to-10-day mission. However, safety issues with the spacecraft extended her stay significantly. Now, NASA’s revised schedule places her return to Earth after the SpaceX Crew-10 mission, expected to launch in late March 2025.
NASA and SpaceX have made adjustments to the upcoming missions to ensure the safety and smooth operation of the ISS. The SpaceX Crew-10 mission will launch four astronauts to the ISS to replace Crew-9, which includes Ms. Williams, Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, and Aleksandr Gorbunov. Crew-9 will return to Earth after Crew-10’s arrival.
During the transition, known as the ‘handover’ period, the outgoing crew will share insights with the new arrivals to ensure the continuity of scientific research and maintenance activities aboard the ISS. Meanwhile, the Expedition 72 team is focused on completing experiments and preparing for spacewalks.
There were rumors about Williams’ health and weight loss, but these were dismissed by NASA. She clarified that she is staying fit using special exercise equipment aboard the ISS, even running a marathon on the space station’s treadmill during a previous mission.
NASA also confirmed that the ISS is well-stocked, with recent resupply missions in November delivering food, water, clothing, oxygen, and even holiday treats for the crew.
