Two astronauts are living an epic sci-fi nightmare since their eight-day space odyssey turned into a months-long stay at the International Space Station. Now, after seeing images that reveal some disturbing details, people are expressing their fears, saying the duo was “left to rot” in space.
On June 5, 2024, Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore blasted off into orbit, becoming the first crew to ride Boeing’s new Starliner capsule on what was meant to be a week-long test flight.
However, their journey took an unexpected turn.
After battling a series of thruster malfunctions and helium leaks, the two retired Navy captains finally reached the International Space Station (ISS), the research station orbiting about 250 miles above the earth.
Unfortunately, NASA declared the Starliner too risky for a return trip and their mission was extended until February 2025 when they’re expected to return home aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
‘Different path’
Despite the unforeseen extension, Williams, 59, and Wilmore, 61, adapted seamlessly to their extended mission. Williams, who assumed command of the ISS in September 2024, and Wilmore contributed to various scientific experiments, station maintenance, and even addressed unexpected challenges, such as repairing a malfunctioning toilet.
Despite being stuck, a term NASA avoids using, the duo remains unshaken, with Wilmore putting a positive spin on their situation: “We’re just on a different path,” said Tennessee’s Wilmore. “Mindset does go a long way. I don’t look at these situations in life as being downers.”
And, Commander Williams said, “I like everything about being up here.” Speaking in December with elementary students at the Massachusetts school named after her, she adds, “Just living in space is super fun.”
‘Looks like starvation’
On top of being stranded until at least February, Williams sparked a wave of concern from the public, after she was seen with sunken cheeks and noticeable weight loss in newly released clips and images.
“WHOA! They [aren’t] telling us the truth up there. That looks like starvation,” tweets one user about Williams gaunt physique.
“We have two folks who are actually doing the legwork and possibly advancing humanity, and they’re just left to rot. Feb of 2025?? She doesn’t look like she’s gonna make it. It’s really sad,” shares a second, while a third offers, “Damn bro, looks like we really gonna let [them] die up there.”
Another online user adds, “The lady looks in poor health…probably lost a bunch of weight & bone density. The dude is also looking scruffy and underfed. I imagine s*** like this would happen when your weekend trip to ISS turns into an almost yearlong horror show. Jailed in Space.”
Meanwhile, a handful of online users trust in the space veteran’s abilities: “Nah, dude…She has tons of experience and is healthy, so they’ll be alright,” one netizen writes.
Fluid shift
But Williams insists her weight hasn’t changed since she launched, suggesting that her appearance is due to a “fluid shift,” caused by weightlessness in space that can often bring a person’s blood from their lower extremities to a higher point in their body.
“There’s a lot of changes that go on up here. I think there’s some rumors going on that I’m losing weight. I’m the same weight that I was when I got up here,” the astronaut clarified.
“I think things shift around quite a bit, you probably heard of a fluid shift. Folks in space you know, their heads look a little bit bigger because the fluid evens out along the body.”
Space fitness and food
Williams said she’s been working out diligently while on the orbiting laboratory, in a “specifically designed, earth-like exercise plan.”
In fact, NASA writes that “crew members are scheduled for two and a half hours of daily exercise to support muscle, bone, aerobic, and sensorimotor health.”
“I could definitely tell that weightlifting, which is not something that I do all the time, has definitely changed me. My thighs are a little bit bigger, my butt is a little bit bigger,” Williams said, adding, “I weigh the same.”
Addressing the “rumors,” NASA issued a statement reassuring the public that Williams “is in good health.”
“All NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station undergo routine medical evaluations, have dedicated flight surgeons monitoring them, and are in good health.”
The space agency also stressed that the crew has plenty of supplies, including personal favorites on the menu, to sustain their unexpectedly long orbital trip.
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