Nasa astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore have return to Earth after stay 9 months in space. The Crew-9 splashed down near the coast of Florida (USA), marking the cease of an abruptly long live aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Their assignment, which started on June 5, 2024, was imagined to closing best 8 days. However, due to technical issues, they remained in area for more than 9 months. Such prolonged exposure to space conditions will have lasting results on both the astronauts.
What Sunita Williams did in space?
From maintaining and clearing the large, football discipline-sized station to changing old hardware, Williams performed a hands-on role in maintaining the ISS running easily. Alongside her crew, she also stated to have achieved several medical experiments and contributed to ongoing research.
According to NASA, Williams and her group logged an outstanding 900 hours of medical studies. Throughout their prolonged undertaking, they carried out more than 150 experiments. Williams also set a new benchmark as she have become the women to spend the most time in space. One of the highlights of her time the ISS was her data setting 62 hours and 9 minutes of spacewalks spread across 9 tours out of doors the station.
Long Term Impacts
Unlike Earth, area gives no natural safety against high cosmic radiation. Astronauts are uncovered to high ranges of radiation from the Sun. This is equivalent to around one chest X-ray per day during their stay in space.
Imagine, that in 9 months, Sunita Williams would had been uncovered to radiation levels same to almost 270 chest X-rays. Prolonged exposure to such high levels of radiation can weaken the immune system, harm tissues, and increase the risks of radiation illness and cancer, posing serious long-time period health risks for astronauts.