Latest news with #Sunita'Suni'Williams
India Today
5 days ago
- Science
- India Today
Starliner that stranded Sunita Williams in space will not fly until 2026
It does not look like Boeing's Starliner will get clearance to fly to space till International Space Station (ISS) is experiencing one of its busiest periods on record, with spacecraft arrivals and departures occurring almost every few weeks in a flurry of global and commercial early July, the private Ax-4 mission departed the ISS to make way for NASA's upcoming Crew-11 mission, while SpaceX's Cargo Dragon wrapped up its latest resupply in late Meanwhile, Russia's Progress 92 cargo ship docked on July 5, joining a lineup of international vehicles currently berthed at the orbital to NASA, at present, four spacecraft—including SpaceX Dragon, Soyuz MS-27, and two Progress resupply ships—are docked to the ISS, supporting a dynamic crew rotation and steady high frequency of traffic is expected to continue, as up to six more vehicles are scheduled to launch to the station before year's end, carrying crew members, research payloads, and new technology demonstrations. The breadth of participation from NASA, Roscosmos, SpaceX, and partners marks an unprecedented era of activity for the ISS since its inception in missing from this parade of vehicles for the remainder of 2025 is Boeing's Starliner. After its first astronaut mission in June 2024, which brought NASA astronauts Sunita 'Suni' Williams and Butch Wilmore to the ISS, Starliner encountered issues with its thruster systems, specifically in its doghouse-enclosed reaction control capsule's safe uncrewed return underscored ongoing technical concerns. Though NASA and Boeing initially aimed for a return to flight by late 2025, a new timetable has shifted the next Starliner mission to no sooner than early are currently performing extensive tests and evaluations at NASA's White Sands Test Facility in New astronauts Williams and Wilmore ultimately joined SpaceX's Crew-9 rotation, extending their stay on the station far beyond the planned one returned to Earth aboard Crew Dragon Freedom earlier this year, reflecting the ISS's adaptability as new crew vehicles come online and face real-world the ISS continues to host an ever-changing suite of international visitors, it remains at the heart of global space exploration, even as new spacecraft like Starliner work through the demanding realities of orbital service.- EndsMust Watch
Indian Express
09-05-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
‘Russian wipes, tissues, Huggies': Take a tour of the International Space Station with Sunita Williams and learn how astronauts eat, sleep and poop
Astronaut Sunita 'Suni' Williams and Butch Wilmore recently made it back to Earth after their trip to space was unceremoniously stretched out to 9 months. Have you ever wondered how exactly astronauts live in the International Space Station? Well, Williams is here to quench that curiosity, showing how astronauts live, work, and even use the bathroom in microgravity. From floating while sleeping to drinking water bubbles while brushing teeth, life in space is unlike anything on Earth. The sleeping quarters on the ISS are compact yet functional. In an old video of the space station, Williams explains: 'Four out of six of us sleep here, and people always ask—do you lie down? Are you in a bed? Not really, because it doesn't matter! You don't have the sensation of lying down. You just get in your sleeping bag.' Each astronaut has a small, phone booth-like Sleep Station equipped with a sleeping bag and personal items like books, computers, and clothes. Unlike Earth, there's no 'right side up' in space, so astronauts can sleep in any orientation—even upside down! One of the most common questions about space travel is: how do astronauts go to the bathroom? Williams gives a humorous yet informative answer: 'For number two, there's a small seat—you need good aim! And for number one, we use this hose. It's colour-coded, so we don't mix things up. And both have suction to make sure everything goes in the right direction!' To prevent floating waste, the ISS toilet uses a vacuum suction system. Astronauts also have various options for toilet paper, from Russian wipes to disinfectant towels. 'Toilet paper? We have different options! Russian wipes, tissues, Huggies—just in case—and disinfectant wipes, because, well, things can get out of control!,' Williams says. Brushing teeth in space is surprisingly different. Since water doesn't flow as it does on Earth, astronauts have to get creative: 'Toothpaste sticks to the brush, and so does water—it forms a floating bubble because of surface tension. You can either swallow the toothpaste (not recommended at home!) or spit it into a paper towel.' Water clings to surfaces, forming little blobs, and astronauts use that to rinse their toothbrushes. The kitchen is where astronauts gather to eat. The ISS is stocked with a mix of American, Russian, and Japanese space food. Some meals come dehydrated and need to be rehydrated with water, while others can be heated and eaten normally. 'We get food from all over—American, Russian, Japanese, and even special treats from home. My family sent up Fluff so I could make my favorite Fluffernutter sandwich with peanut butter!,' Williams exclaimed. Astronauts enjoy a variety of foods, including meats, vegetables, snacks, and even candy. Williams' tour offers a rare glimpse into astronaut life, showing how they eat, sleep, and maintain hygiene in a zero-gravity environment. 🚀
Washington Post
01-04-2025
- Science
- Washington Post
They were stuck in space for 9 months. They'd go back ‘in a heartbeat.'
Sunita 'Suni' Williams and Barry 'Butch' Wilmore have had quite the year: The NASA astronauts were the first people to travel aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft last summer, before technical issues left them stuck in the International Space Station for months on end. But when they finally made it back to Earth last month, after 286 days in space, their immediate concerns were much more mundane.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Sunita Williams describes seeing India from 250 miles above Earth onboard the International Space Station
Nasa astronaut Sunita 'Suni' Williams has shared her experience passing over the "incredible" Himalayas and Indian landscape from onboard International Space Station. In their first news conference since coming home, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams discussed life during their space mission. When asked by a reporter how India looks from space, Williams replied: 'India is amazing. Every time we went over the Himalayas, Butch got some incredible pictures. Just amazing.' Wilmore and Williams returned to Earth in a SpaceX capsule on 18 March, nine months after their faulty Boeing Starliner craft upended what was to be a week-long stay on the International Space Station.
The Independent
01-04-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Sunita Williams describes seeing India from 250 miles above Earth onboard the International Space Station
Nasa astronaut Sunita 'Suni' Williams has shared her experience passing over the "incredible" Himalayas and Indian landscape from onboard International Space Station. In their first news conference since coming home, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams discussed life during their space mission. When asked by a reporter how India looks from space, Williams replied: ' India is amazing. Every time we went over the Himalayas, Butch got some incredible pictures. Just amazing.' Wilmore and Williams returned to Earth in a SpaceX capsule on 18 March, nine months after their faulty Boeing Starliner craft upended what was to be a week-long stay on the International Space Station.
