Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams left the Earth for an eight-day mission on June 5, and now the astronauts stuck in space list is two names longer. An extended stay for the crew happened due to NASA’s decision to fly their ship back empty due to some technical issues.
They are not the first ones to experience mission hurdles, and according to Mission Control, all is well. There were far more complicated situations in the history of space exploration. Some NASA astronauts stranded in space have lived through dramatic events, and there’s even a case of an astronaut witnessing his country’s collapse from above.
Astronauts Stranded in Space: Stories and Records
Reasons for extended missions vary, and not all of them are caused by technical problems. Let’s recall some stories.
Most heartbreaking stay: Ken Bowersox
Nothing extraordinary happened with the Expedition 6mission, and the crew was scheduled to fly back home on time on the Atlantis space shuttle, but another shuttle crash strained the plan. On February 1, 2003, Bowersox contacted the shuttle Columbia which conducted microgravity research, flying the STS-107 mission. Later that day, Columbia disintegrated during reentry. The crash took the lives of the whole crew and the catastrophe impacted the ISS team hugely. The mission was prolonged to provide the astronauts with some time to process the grief. On May 6 that year, Ken Bowersox and his colleagues were brought home successfully.
Most life-changing stay: Sergey Krikalev
The list of astronauts stuck in space names wouldn’t be full without the astronaut who witnessed a whole different catastrophe from space. During his mission, the Soviet Union collapsed, which led to problems with funding, hence the delayed flight home for Krikalev. He had spent 311 consecutive days at the MIR station, which was twice as long as initially planned.
Longest stay by NASA astronaut
Frank Rubio holds the record for the longest ISS residence by an American. He had spent 371 consecutive days on a mission due to radiator leakage. Space junk had hit the ship and the damage had rendered further use impossible. After suffering microgravity effects for such a long time, the astronaut wasn’t able to walk on his own when he arrived on Earth on September 27, 2023.
There are more stories to read on the space news platform Orbital Today; the history of space exploration is truly exciting.
Astronauts Stuck in Space 2024: Risks and Challenges
Modern space missions are far from “floating in a tin can”. Technologies are far more advanced now, and the ISS is quite safe to work at. Astronauts returning from space get all the needed help to fully recover from microgravity, though it may take up to several months. The ISS is provided with all the necessary supplies to conduct research in the most comfortable conditions possible. But if they are safe at the station and afterwards, why does every unexpectedly prolonged mission make it to the news? The thing is a long time in space affects astronauts’ health significantly, making the recovery process harder and lengthier. So, what happens to astronauts when they return from space?
The effects are multiple, and it takes three days on average to only adjust to the gravity again. The other issues include:
- Proprioception loss
- Blood volume decrease
- Muscle and bone mass loss
- Hindered circadian rhythm
While most of the effects are reversible, they take a toll on the human body, and it’s better to minimize the risks when possible.
Are Williams and Wilmore Still in Space?
How come with all the progress we still have stranded people in space? Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Suni Williams are waiting for the end of their mission which is set for February. But why are the astronauts stuck in space until 2025?
Turns out, we’re brave enough now to send crewed experimental spacecraft to the ISS. Williams and Wilmore arrived on Boeing’s Starliner, which appeared to be problem-plagued and sent back home empty. The latest news insists astronauts won’t be back till March or even April, due to the constant rescheduling of their flight home.
The Final Words
Though astronauts stranded in space is not a rare occurrence and NASA claims there’s nothing to worry about, it’s hard to ignore the effects long stay in space have on human health. While we’re eager to learn more about space and microgravity, the main focus should be on the well-being of those who have the courage to perform the task.
Author: Emma Thorpe
