The June 5 mission had begun aboard a Boeing Starliner with American astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore. Originally, they were supposed to allocate 8 days at the international space station; however, helium gas leakage caused delay in their return back to Earth.
Based on the pressure of helium leaking and thruster issues on Boeing’s Starliner, it has been decided that in February next year they will be brought back through SpaceX vehicle which means that Sunita Williams and Wilmore have at least 240 days in space.
What if both these astronauts who had planned a stay of only 8 days, ended up there for 8 months? Is this a threat to their lives? What changes can happen our bodies from such long period of time?
However, American government spends much more on her space programs than many small countries do with their GDP. So why then hasn’t US brought back Sunita Williams yet?
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What changes will occur in Sunita’s body over 8 months?
In the year 2022, it was revealed through a study that saw publication in the esteemed Nature Magazine and conducted in Canada that during their mission in space, up to 50 percent of red blood cells belonging to astronauts are destroyed and this loss continues for as long as they remain up there. Thus, astronauts face space anemia due to the absence of enough blood whilst in space.
As part of its normal functions on Earth, red blood cells or RBCs are responsible for taking oxygen round the body. However, when there is an absence of RBCs whilst in outer space, it affects the process negatively. Therefore, human beings will find it very difficult to explore places like the moon and Mars as far so travel into outer space is concerned. Furthermore, prolonged stay within zero-gravity environment by astronauts results into muscle atrophy and calcium depletion from bones which makes them feel weak and exhausted when they come back home.
30 million red blood cells are destroyed every second
As per scientists, in space, there are 30 million red blood cells destroyed every second in the bodies of astronauts as against 2 million every second on earth. Nevertheless, in most cases, the body can recover from the loss of blood cells because RBCs are generated at a fast rate.
What do astronauts do at the space station?
In an interview, Scott Kelly who is an American astronaut that spent 340 days in space explained that work on the International Space Station (ISS) was much for astronauts.
He stated that every day they wake up at 6 am and their work mainly involves three activities: performing various experiments, fixing broken hardware and doing routine maintenance to keep the station running well.
Billions of dollars spent on space but still failing
In the annual space programs, the United States invests over $73 billion. Which is more than the budget of any other country according to a study by Statista.
On a second place is China with a little bit above $14 billion. Despite such a huge space budget, U.S. has been unable to return its astronauts back home on time.
Statistics show that as of November 2023, out of 676 people who traveled into space, 19 American astronauts have died.
The mortality rate among American astronauts is 2.8%. In the last 50 years, more than 30 astronauts from both United States and Russia lost their lives. The vehicle used by NASA astronauts to get to the international space station had quite an unfortunate history.
Even Boeing’s planes that operate on earth frequently encounter various problems.
Russia’s capsule might bring Sunita and Wilmore back
At this time, there are a total of 8 capsules docked at the International Space Station located in Low Earth Orbit. Among these is Russia’s capsule which is available for emergency use. In previous years, this had been home to American capsules but today all bar one belong to Russia. In cases of emergency Russian capsule can return 5 astronauts to Earth simultaneously.
The space station currently has 7 astronauts residing there along with Sunita Williams and Butch. But due to strained relations between US and Russia. America is not eager towards using the Russian capsule to bring back its astronauts on board.
How does a spacecraft enter Earth’s atmosphere?
The International Space Station hangs at around 300 kilometers over Earth’s surface (a height where most satellites are positioned). During descent from outer space downwards into our atmosphere a specific corridor is used by spacecrafts up until about 80 km above sea level as their starting point.
Any mistake made in this phase would mean that either the spacecraft goes back out to space or keeps circling around the planet itself; so called re-entry.
How does re-entry happen, and what is the corridor?
According to scientists who study space, spacecraft have to enter earth at a particular angle ranging from 9491 degrees and 9980 degrees. The upper part of the capsule burns up when it enters this angle into the earth’s atmosphere. Therefore, the lower part containing astronauts returns back to earth using parachutes.
If there is any little mistake at this stage, the whole spacecraft will be destroyed by fire.
The first woman in space was sent there by Russia
Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman and therefore the youngest cosmonaut from the Soviet Union who travelled to space. The trip took place on June 16th of 1963 and she was picked out of about 400 applicants. Scientists from America at that moment believed that men were the only ones who could go into outer space. Unlike Soviet Union which wanted to beat Americans by sending a first lady there.
President Kennedy opposed sending women to the moon
In 1962 USA approved Civil Rights act which limited sending women to outer space. But even then John F Kennedy insisted on sending only male astronauts so men were given priority. It was not until twenty years later in 1983 that Sally Ride became the first American female astronaut.
