November 7th 2024.
Recent reports have sparked concerns about the health of astronaut Sunita Williams, who has been stationed on the International Space Station (ISS) since June. However, NASA has reassured the public that Sunita is safe and in good health, despite being stranded on the ISS with fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore.
Dr. Vinay Gupta, a pulmonologist, shared his observations after seeing a photo of Sunita on September 24. He noted that she appeared "gaunt" and had likely lost a significant amount of weight after spending over 150 days in space. The photo showed Sunita enjoying a pepperoni pizza and chips, but her sunken cheeks raised concerns about her overall well-being.
Dr. Gupta explained that weight loss is common among astronauts living in a pressurized cabin at a high altitude for extended periods. While he doesn't believe Sunita's life is in danger, he did express concern about her overall body weight.
But NASA has maintained that Sunita and her fellow astronauts on the ISS are doing well. According to spokesperson Jimi Russell, all astronauts undergo routine medical evaluations and have dedicated flight surgeons monitoring their health. Despite this, concerns were raised after four astronauts from the Crew-8 mission were hospitalized upon returning to Earth on October 25.
The crew had spent 232 days on the ISS and one astronaut had to spend the night in the hospital due to a "medical issue." The other three were discharged the same day, but NASA has not disclosed any details about the incident, citing the astronauts' medical privacy.
Sunita and Butch have been living on the ISS for six months and will continue to do so until at least February 2025. At that time, they will be able to return to Earth on SpaceX's Crew-9 mission Dragon Capsule.
Weight loss during extended ISS missions is not uncommon, with most astronauts losing about 5% of their body weight during a four to six month stay in orbit. It is a natural result of living in a microgravity environment and should not be a cause for alarm.
In conclusion, while concerns have been raised about Sunita's weight, NASA assures us that she and her fellow astronauts are in good health. Weight loss is a normal occurrence in space and the astronauts are closely monitored by medical professionals. Let us trust in NASA's expertise and continue to support the brave astronauts on their mission in space.
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