NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams are set to make history by spending over 240 days in space before their journey home. This extended mission surpasses the typical six-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS), raising questions about how the human body copes with such prolonged exposure to microgravity.
### The Record-breaking Journey
The astronauts’ return flight, originally planned for just eight days, has been extended to no earlier than February 2025. This decision comes after their launch aboard the Boeing Starliner spacecraft on June 5, 2024. However, due to technical issues with the Starliner, NASA has opted to use a SpaceX vehicle for the return journey, which has yet to be scheduled. If all goes according to plan, Wilmore and Williams will spend a minimum of 240 consecutive days in space, with the possibility of extending their stay to nearly 270 days if their return is delayed until March.
While eight months in space may seem like a long time, it falls short of the record for the most consecutive days spent in space by an American astronaut. That honor belongs to Frank Rubio, who spent an impressive 371 days aboard the ISS from September 2022 to September 2023. Rubio’s extended mission was the result of unforeseen circumstances, as a collision with a small meteoroid or space debris damaged the Russian Soyuz spacecraft that was meant to bring him home in December 2022. This incident forced Rubio, along with Russian cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin, to wait an additional six months in orbit before a replacement capsule arrived.
### Notable Long-duration Missions
Rubio’s record-breaking mission is just one example of the challenges astronauts face during extended stays in space. Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov holds the overall record for the most consecutive days spent in space, spending 437 days aboard the Mir space station from January 1994 to March 1995. Polyakov volunteered for this mission to study the effects of long-term spaceflight on human health, providing valuable data for future missions.
Other notable long-duration missions include American astronaut Christina Koch’s 328 days aboard the ISS from March 2019 to February 2020, the longest single spaceflight by a woman. Additionally, American astronaut Scott Kelly spent 340 days in space from March 2015 to March 2016, providing valuable insights into the effects of spaceflight on human health as part of NASA’s groundbreaking twins study.
### The Impact of Space on the Human Body
Extended stays in space can have significant effects on the human body, as demonstrated by the research conducted during missions like Kelly’s. The twins study compared Kelly’s physical and mental health before and after his time in space with his twin brother Mark Kelly, who remained on Earth. The study revealed changes in gene expression, body weight, gut microbiome composition, and other factors, highlighting the challenges astronauts face during long-duration missions.
In addition to these physiological changes, astronauts may also experience mental health challenges associated with isolation and boredom in the confined space of the ISS. However, most of these changes are temporary and revert to normal after astronauts return to Earth. Despite these challenges, the study of spaceflight on human health is still in its early stages, with researchers continuing to learn more about how the human body adapts to the rigors of space travel.
### Safety Concerns and Technical Issues
The decision to extend Wilmore and Williams’ mission was made in the interest of safety, as the Starliner spacecraft experienced several technical issues during its journey to the ISS in June. Hydrogen leaks and problems with the craft’s thrusters raised concerns about its reliability for the return journey, prompting NASA to opt for a SpaceX vehicle instead. This precautionary measure ensures the astronauts’ safe return to Earth, avoiding the risks associated with unresolved technical issues.
As Wilmore and Williams prepare for their extended stay in space, they will have the opportunity to conduct experiments, maintain the ISS, and contribute valuable data to the study of long-duration spaceflight. Their mission represents a significant milestone in human space exploration, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the quest to understand the effects of space on the human body.
In conclusion, the upcoming journey of Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams highlights the challenges and opportunities of long-duration spaceflight. As they prepare to spend over 240 days in orbit, their mission promises to provide valuable insights into the effects of space on the human body and advance our understanding of the demands of space exploration.
