Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams spoke to students at her former high school, Needham High, on Monday, and shared the challenges and joys of being stuck in space for nearly seven months.
Originally, her mission to the International Space Station (ISS) was expected to last just over a week, but technical problems with the Starliner spacecraft have kept her and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore in orbit far longer than planned.
During a virtual Q&A session with the students, Williams was asked about the sensation of microgravity. She described it as feeling like swimming or flying, but admitted that the extended time in space has led to physical adjustments. "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," Williams said.
Reflecting on her time in space, Williams shared that while the extended stay was unexpected, she remains positive and enthusiastic about her work. "It was a little bit of a shock, actually," she said about the delay. "We knew that it would be probably a month or so, honestly. But the extended stay was just a little bit different."
Williams explained that her time in space has given her a new perspective on her relationships back home, particularly with her aging mother. "My mother's getting a little bit older, so in that regard, I just try to stay in touch with them and those guys as much as possible," she said, adding that she talks to her mother almost daily to stay connected.
Williams also emphasized that she doesn't feel isolated, as her busy schedule aboard the ISS and regular communications with family help her stay grounded.
The astronauts' extended stay was caused by delays related to the Starliner spacecraft, which prompted NASA to keep them in space longer. Their planned return via SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon in February has now been delayed, as their replacement crew aboard SpaceX Crew-10 is not scheduled to launch until late March or April. Their return to Earth will be contingent on the completion of a handover period between the two crews.
Source: msn.com
Bd-pratidin English/ Afia
