Gravity may feel like a powerful challenge as Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore’s bodies adjust to life back on Earth.
Will Sunita Williams return to Earth?
Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are set to return to Earth on March 19. However, once they’re back, they might struggle to get used to Earth’s gravity again. In fact, gravity could feel really tough on their bodies as they adjust to life back on the planet.
Williams and Wilmore have been in space for over eight months, living without gravity. Wilmore shared that their biggest challenge after returning will be dealing with gravity again. “Gravity is really tough, and we feel it as soon as we’re back,” he told CNN. “It pulls everything downward, including fluids in our bodies, and even something as simple as lifting a pencil will feel like a workout.”
Williams agreed with Wilmore, saying that getting used to life on Earth again will be tough. The sudden shift could make them feel uncomfortable and much heavier than before.
Sunita Williams Set to Return to Earth on March 19 – Key Details Inside
Wilmore explained in an interview that the plan is for Crew-10 to launch on March 12 and spend about a week handing over responsibilities before Wilmore and Sunita Williams return to Earth on March 19.
Williams and Wilmore have been living on the space station since June 2024. They arrived there aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft and have spent more than eight months in microgravity, conducting research and maintaining the station. Now, as they prepare for their journey home, they must also get ready for the physical challenges of readjusting to Earth’s gravity after such a long time in space.
During its flight, the Starliner spacecraft had several technical problems with its thruster engines. Because of this, NASA decided to bring the Boeing capsule back to Earth without any crew onboard. Instead, Williams and Wilmore will return on a SpaceX capsule at a later time.
Meanwhile, the Crew-10 mission is set to launch soon, bringing a new team of astronauts to the space station to take over duties from Williams and Wilmore before they head back home.
This decision to bring the astronauts back came after both Trump and Musk made separate statements in January, saying that SpaceX would bring them home “as soon as possible.” It’s important to mention that SpaceX has played a key role in NASA’s space missions.
Steve Stich, who manages NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, said in a statement that space missions often come with unexpected challenges. He explained that NASA and SpaceX work closely together, and SpaceX’s ability to adapt quickly helps them handle these challenges smoothly.
Trump and Musk Claim Biden Left Sunita Williams & Butch Wilmore Stranded in Space
In a recent interview, former U.S. President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed that President Joe Biden left NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for “political reasons.”
Trump added, “They got left in space.”
Musk went on to say, “They were left up there for political reasons, which is not good.
When asked about SpaceX’s plan to bring Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore back to Earth, Musk said, “We don’t want to be overconfident, but we have successfully brought astronauts back from the space station many times before.”
He mentioned that the mission to bring them home is expected to happen in about four weeks.
Meanwhile, Trump claimed that the Biden administration had not approved SpaceX’s plan. He added, “I think Biden was going to leave them in space because he didn’t want the publicity.”
Why Has Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore’s Return Been Delayed?
Williams, 59, and Wilmore originally planned to spend just eight days on the ISS after arriving on Boeing’s Starliner in June 2024.
However, technical problems like helium leaks and thruster issues made the spacecraft unsafe for their return.
After several delays, NASA now plans to bring them back to Earth in late March using a SpaceX spacecraft instead of Boeing’s Starliner.
