How Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore survived for 9 months. What did they eat on NASA space station?

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams have safely returned to Earth, landing off the coast of Florida in a SpaceX capsule on Tuesday (US local time). Their journey back follows an extended stay in space, originally planned for just a week, but prolonged to nine months due to complications with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Long-duration space missions often lead to physical challenges, including muscle loss, fluid shifts, kidney stones, vision impairments, and balance difficulties upon reentry into Earth’s gravity.

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The ISS: A Global Research Hub and Home to Experienced Astronauts

The International Space Station (ISS), located 254 miles (409 km) above Earth, has hosted astronauts from around the world for nearly 25 years now. The US and Russia primarily manage the football field-sized research lab, which serves as a key hub for scientific collaboration. Both Wilmore and Williams are Navy test pilots who later joined NASA. Wilmore, 62, was a high school and college football player in Tennessee, while Williams, 59, was a competitive swimmer and distance runner from Needham, Massachusetts. Wilmore missed most of his younger daughter’s senior year, while Williams stayed connected with her husband, mother, and relatives through internet calls from space.

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Physical Challenges of Long-Duration Space Missions

Living in space for months poses physical challenges, including muscle and bone loss, fluid shifts that can lead to kidney stones, vision issues, and balance readjustment upon return to gravity. These effects are well-documented and managed by NASA. Both astronauts were experienced ISS crew members and refreshed their station training before launch.

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Astronauts’ Diet Aboard the ISS: Limited Fresh Produce and Space-Friendly Meals

On November 18 last year, The New York Post reported that NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams enjoyed pizza, roast chicken, and shrimp cocktails aboard the International Space Station (ISS). A source familiar with the Boeing Starliner mission issues revealed that NASA restricted the crew’s intake of fresh produce to ensure a nutritious diet.