00:00Imagine being stranded in space for almost 300 days.
00:04For Indian origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, that became a reality.
00:08From groundbreaking experiments to record-breaking spacewalks,
00:11her journey aboard the ISS has left an indelible mark on the future of space exploration.
00:15Here's a report.
00:17What would you do if you were stranded in space for almost 300 days?
00:34Imagine floating 400 kilometers above Earth, facing challenges you never thought possible.
00:44For Indian origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, this scenario became a reality.
00:50But what exactly has Sunita done in space during this extended time?
01:02From growing lettuce in space to conducting groundbreaking experiments,
01:06Williams has been busy.
01:11As part of NASA's plant growth research, she helped study how plants thrive in space,
01:17focusing on how varying conditions impact plant growth.
01:21Williams also made history by breaking spacewalking records,
01:25spending over 62 hours outside the International Space Station.
01:34She also helped set up the Packed Bed React experiment,
01:38studying how to improve water recovery and heat management in space.
01:44The advancements could be crucial for long-term missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond.
01:52While it is a far cry from the space adventure we imagine,
01:56with over 900 hours of research and numerous record-breaking achievements,
02:01Williams' time in space has made history.
02:09Sunita Williams has not just survived in space,
02:13she has led vital research that will shape the future of space travel.
02:18Bureau report, India Today.
02:24Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who were returning after nine months,
02:28have once again been delayed.
02:30But it won't be an easy homecoming for them.
02:32They are likely to experience severe physical and psychological challenges
02:36as they readjust to Earth's gravity after an extended stay in space.
02:40Here's a report.
02:52A 10-day space odyssey that ended up lasting almost 10 months.
02:57But it will not be a normal homecoming.
03:00Williams and Wilmore will face difficulties to adapt to Earth's gravity.
03:05The two may experience baby feet after extended space travel,
03:10which means they will lose the thick part of their skin
03:13as weightlessness causes food calluses to diminish.
03:17They may experience dizziness, vertigo and difficulty walking for the first few days.
03:23Even though astronauts exercise in space,
03:26muscles, especially in the legs and back, weaken due to reduced use.
03:30Prolonged weightlessness leads to bone density loss, increasing the risk of fractures.
03:36In space, fluids shift upwards and the heart does not have to work as hard to pump blood.
03:42They will require a period of cardiovascular recovery.
03:45They might experience spatial disorientation
03:48as the brain readjusts to the constant downward pull of gravity.
03:53To counter these effects, NASA and other space agencies have extensive rehabilitation programs
04:00involving physical therapy, medical monitoring and gradual reconditioning.
04:05After coming back from space, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore will take weeks to acclimatize.
04:12Bureau Report, India Today.
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