ICE-COOL SUNITA IN THE FACE OF EXTREME ADVERSITY

ON Saturday, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station's Harmony Module and returned to Earth, leaving two astronauts-Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmorebehind on the space station.

- SV KRISHNA CHAITANYA

It meant the astronauts were stranded in space for months, until February. The mission, launched on June 5 and was supposed to have lasted for eight days, had encountered multiple setbacks with helium leaks and malfunctioning of control thrusters, raising questions over the spacecraft's reliability.

Despite facing such extreme adversity, the Indianorigin 58-year-old Sunita Williams looked unfazed, oozing confidence with her iconic hair style and smile.

Prolonged exposure to the microgravity environment of the ISS poses several health risks, such as muscle atrophy, bone density loss, and radiation exposure. Although Williams is no stranger to these challenges, given her previous recordsetting spaceflights, the current mission's duration has surpassed what was originally planned. NASA scientists are concerned about the potential long-term effects on Williams' health, especially since she is one of the few astronauts who have spent over 300 days in space cumulatively.