Featured Image Credit: Joe Raedle / Staff / Getty
Stranded astronaut Sunita "Suni" Williams have revealed that she's trying to 'remember how to walk' after being in space for 237 days, as a rescue mission from Elon Musk appears to be imminent.
There is almost an endless stream of things that you have to do to prepare for life as an astronaut in space, from complex tests to intense 'death simulations' that ensure you're prepared for any possibility, but it's surprising how much adjustment you have to account for when returning back home to Earth.
Existing in space is wildly different to life at home, and one of the biggest reasons for that is the lack of gravity. Your living routines are essentially flipped on their head, as you can't eat, drink, wash, or even sleep the same way as you would normally.
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.
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Williams, alongside Butch Wilmore, has been trapped on the International Space Station (ISS) for over 237 days now after what was initially supposed to be just an eight day mission.
The pair have had to spend holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving in space, and even resort to eating soup made out of their own urine, yet their biggest challenges might still be ahead of them.
"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."
While many have worried about the pair's health after photos showing their gaunt physical appearance were released, NASA has quashed any concerns and assured everyone that they're both alright despite the extended stay.
Williams also revealed, however, that the length of time that she's spent in space was "a little bit of a shock." She outlines: "We knew that it would be probably a month or so, honestly. But the extended stay was just a little bit different."
They might not have to wait too much longer though as SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed on X that President Trump has ordered the aeronautics company to bring them back home immediately.
"We will do so," Musk assured everyone, after Trump declared that SpaceX 'go get' the pair from the International Space Station.
It was already agreed during the Biden administration that the SpaceX Crew-10 mission would go and rescue Williams and Wilmore, but for an unclear reason this still hasn't happened.
