NASA astronaut Sunita Williams addresses health concerns after photos sparked rumors, reassuring the public about her well-being in space.
NASA astronaut Sunita “Suni” Williams has recently made headlines after some photos taken in space raised concerns about her health.
Along with her crewmate, Barry “Butch” Wilmore, Williams has been aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
They have stayed longer than planned due to technical issues with their spacecraft.
NASA astronauts forced to extend stay in space
Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore launched into space on June 5 for what was supposed to be an eight-day mission.
However, after encountering problems with their spacecraft, they could not return as scheduled.
Instead of coming back early, NASA decided it was safer for them to stay in space.
They are expected to return home on a SpaceX Dragon capsule when the time is right.
New photo of sickly Williams sparks health concerns
Recently, new images of Williams were shared, leading to public concern about her physical condition.
Many people noticed changes in her appearance, particularly her face, which seemed different than before.
Some experts, including Dr. Vinay Gupta, a pulmonologist, suggested that Williams might have lost weight.
He commented on the photos, noting that her cheeks appeared sunken, which could indicate a calorie deficit.
Despite these concerns, Dr. Gupta also reassured the public that Williams did not appear to be in immediate danger.
He stated that while her health may not be optimal, it does not seem critical.
“I think what I can discern by her face and her cheeks being sunken in is that [she] has probably been at a significant [calorie] deficit for a while.
“Based on what I’m at least seeing in the photo, I don’t think she’s quite at a… place where I say her life’s in danger.
“But I don’t think you can look at that photo and say she has sort of healthy body weight,” Dr Vinay Gupta said.
NASA assures astronauts’ health
In light of the rising concerns, NASA released a statement to clarify the situation.
They emphasized that all astronauts on the ISS undergo regular health check-ups.
Flight surgeons closely monitor the astronauts’ health to ensure they’re in good condition in space.
“All NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station undergo routine medical evaluations, have dedicated flight surgeons monitoring them, and are in good health.”
NASA astronaut addresses health concerns after photos show sickly appearance.
To address health concerns, Suni Williams gave an interview with the New England Sports Network.
During the conversation, she was asked whether she had lost any weight since arriving in space.
Williams responded by saying, “There are a lot of changes that go on up here, but it’s funny; I think there are some rumors that I’m losing weight.”
She clarified that she has maintained her weight since the start of her mission.
“I’m actually right at the same amount,” she stated, explaining that they regularly weigh themselves while in space.
“I think things shift around quite a bit. You’ve probably heard of a fluid shift, where folks in space, their heads look a little bigger because the fluid evens out along the body,” she explained.
“But Butch and I have been up here for a number of months, we’ve been on the workout gear.
We’ve got a bike, we got a treadmill and we got weightlifting equipment.
“And I could definitely tell that weightlifting – which is not something I do all the time – has definitely changed me.
My thighs are a little bigger, my but is a little bigger, we do a lot of squats.”
Williams talked about how being in space can affect the body.
She mentioned something called “fluid shift,” which is a common occurrence for astronauts.
This phenomenon can make their heads appear larger because fluids in the body redistribute in microgravity.
Despite changes in her body, Williams reassured that her weight remains the same.
She said her body has changed with more muscle, but her weight remains stable.