Astronaut Sunita Williams is reportedly facing eyesight issues on the International Space Station. According to an IE report, the condition is linked to prolonged microgravity exposure and is known as Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS). SANS affects fluid distribution in the body, leading to blurry vision and structural changes in the eye. Medical scans of Williams’ retina, cornea, and lens have been conducted to assess her eye health.
Williams and her colleague Butch Wilmore were originally scheduled to spend about eight days on the ISS and return in the same spacecraft. However, concerns have arisen about the safety of Starliner due to helium leaks and thruster issues encountered during its trip to the ISS. Due to significant complications with their planned return on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, the agency is now considering an alternative: using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon for their return journey.
So when will Sunita Williams return to Earth?
The Crew Dragon mission, set for September 2024, might serve as a new return option for Williams and Wilmore, potentially extending their stay on the ISS from the originally planned eight days to over eight months. If this alternative is pursued, the Crew Dragon would bring them back to Earth in February 2025, while Boeing’s Starliner would return unmanned, operated solely by computer systems.
Williams is experiencing vision problems attributed to prolonged exposure to microgravity, a condition known as Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS). This syndrome disrupts fluid distribution in the body, leading to visual issues such as blurred vision and changes in eye structure. Recent scans of her cornea, retina, and lens are being reviewed to evaluate the severity of her condition.
Opting for SpaceX’s Crew Dragon would be a significant setback for Boeing, which has already faced criticism over its delayed and costly space projects. Boeing has struggled with technical issues and cost overruns, and choosing SpaceX could further tarnish the company’s reputation.
Additionally, there are concerns about the incompatibility of spacesuits. The spacesuits designed for the Starliner are not compatible with the Crew Dragon, which could mean that astronauts might have to return without their suits if the Crew Dragon is used. NASA is addressing these issues and is even considering sending additional SpaceX flight suits with the Crew-9 Dragon mission.
Ken Bowersox, NASA’s Associate Administrator for Space Operations, highlighted the urgency and complexity of the situation: “We are approaching a critical decision point, ideally by the last week of August. We’re trying to keep flexible timelines while ensuring that Butch and Suni are making the most of their time on the ISS.”