An astronaut who has spent an extended period on board the International Space Station explains that she is forgetting what it feels like to walk.
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Suni Williams, 59, who has been stuck in space for seven months, shared some of her experiences while answering questions from students at Needham High School. According to CBS, Williams graduated from the same establishment. When asked what microgravity feels like in space, Williams explained that it feels like swimming or flying. The astronaut also revealed how she's trying to recall how to walk.
"I've been up here long enough right now. I've been trying to remember what it's like to walk. I haven't walked, I haven't sat down, I haven't laid down. You don't have to. You can just close your eyes and float where you are right here."
Per the report by CBS, Williams anticipated her trip would take longer than usual but didn't expect such a lengthy delay for a return trip. "It was a little bit of a shock, actually. We knew that it would probably be a month or so, honestly. But the extended stay was just a little bit different." She told Needham students.
Despite the extra time in space, the stranded Astronaut is in good spirits and always has plenty to do on board the space station.
The Astronauts Will Have To Wait Until Spring To Leave The ISS
According to People, Williams isn't in space alone and is accompanied by NASA Astronaut Butch Wilmore, 61. Both have been on board the International Space Station since July 2024. The outlet reports that their spacecraft experienced 'mechanical issues.' These problems ultimately led to the spacecraft returning to Earth without them.
A blog by NASA from December 17 outlines a timeline and dates for a potential return trip. It reads, 'NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 now is targeting no earlier than late March 2025 to launch four crew members to the International Space Station.'
The blog also explains that when SpaceX Crew-10 arrives at the orbital laboratory, Crew-9 will be allowed to leave. Williams and Wilmore are both part of that crew. Astronauts from both crews will need to perform a handover 'to share any lessons learned with the newly arrived crew and support a better transition for ongoing science and maintenance at the complex.'
