Stranded astronaut Sunita 'Suni' Williams says she's trying to 'remember how to walk' after spending nine months in space.
Williams and fellow NASA astronaut Barry 'Butch' Wilmore were originally sent to the International Space Station (ISS) in June 2024 for what was meant to be just an eight-day mission.
However, due to technical issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft, they’ve been stuck in orbit for 281 days and counting.
Advert
The latest rescue mission to bring the pair home on Wednesday (March 12) was aborted at the last minute when Elon Musk's space company reported a hydraulic system issue in the launch tower.
This follows another postponed launch in February, which was delayed due to a problem with the rocket’s clamp arms.
While astronauts go through rigorous training (like 'death simulations') to prepare for spaceflight, many people don’t realize how much they have to adjust when coming back to Earth.
Without gravity, simple everyday tasks like walking, sitting, or even lying down aren't as easy as they are back here.
Advert
Of course, your body gets used to this over time, but that makes reintegration into 'normal' life even harder, and stranded astronaut Suni Williams has explained her own experiences of that.
"I've been up here long enough right now I've been trying to remember how to walk," Williams told students at Needham High School, which she herself attended, as reported by People.
"I haven't walked. I haven't sat down. I haven't laid down. You don't have to. You can just close your eyes and float where you are right here."
.jpg)
Advert
The two NASA astronauts have had to spend holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving in space and even resort to eating soup made out of their own urine - an unappealing but probable standard part of ISS life. Yet their biggest challenges might still be ahead of them.
Despite remaining positive and some experts claiming that they are 'not stranded,' many have worried about the pair's health state. Photos have been released showing their gaunt physical appearance however, NASA has reassured everyone that they're both okay.
Williams also admitted that she never expected to spend this much time in space and that it was 'a little bit of a shock.' She added: "We knew that it would be probably a month or so, honestly. But the extended stay was just a little bit different."
The next NASA-SpaceX rescue mission launch has been rescheduled for March 14, so fingers crosses all goes well.