'Trying to remember how to walk', says Sunita Williams after 7 months in space

'Trying To Remember How To Walk,' says astronaut Sunita Williams

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams has been aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for more than seven months, far beyond her originally planned eight-day mission. Along with her colleague Butch Wilmore, she has been stranded in space since June 2024 after the Boeing Starliner capsule encountered technical malfunctions, forcing the spacecraft to return to Earth without them.

Williams and Wilmore were initially expected to return in a month following their mission. However, unforeseen mechanical issues with the Starliner spacecraft resulted in prolonged delays, extending their time in space to over half a year.

NASA has since enlisted SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, to facilitate their safe return to Earth. Despite reassurances from NASA that the astronauts are in good health, concerns have grown over the prolonged stay, especially after images surfaced showing significant weight loss in Williams.

During a recent interaction with students at Needham High School, her alma mater, Williams reflected on the physical and psychological effects of her extended mission.

"I’ve been up here long enough that I’m 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," she told the students, as reported by People Magazine.

She admitted that while she was mentally prepared for an extended stay, the prolonged mission came as a bit of a shock. Speaking to CBS affiliate WBZ-TV, she acknowledged, "We knew that it would probably be a month or so, honestly. But the extended stay was just a little bit different."

Despite the unexpected delay, Williams and Wilmore have made the most of their extra time on the ISS. The duo has celebrated multiple holidays in space, including Thanksgiving and Christmas. In January 2025, Williams conducted her first spacewalk since arriving at the ISS.

They also participated in the 2024 US Presidential Elections, casting their votes from space through a secure, NASA-facilitated process. Wilmore described the process as "very easy", highlighting NASA’s preparedness for astronauts to vote remotely.

With their return to Earth still pending, concerns over prolonged weightlessness and its impact on health have emerged. Long-term space missions have been linked to muscle atrophy, bone density loss, and cardiovascular changes, sparking discussions on the effects of extended space travel on human physiology.

NASA has confirmed that SpaceX will handle their return mission, though an exact timeline remains uncertain. Elon Musk recently stated on X (formerly Twitter) that his team is working on bringing the astronauts back as soon as possible.

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While NASA and SpaceX work on a safe return plan, the two astronauts continue their duties aboard the ISS. Their extended mission, though unexpected, serves as a real-time test of human adaptability in space—a crucial factor as NASA prepares for future Moon and Mars missions.

For now, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore remain aboard the ISS, waiting for their long-awaited journey home.