Astronaut Sunita Williams, who has been aboard the International Space Station for the past seven months, is now “trying to remember what it’s like to walk.”
While answering students’ questions on Monday, Williams shared, “I’ve been up here long enough that I’m trying to remember what it’s like to walk. I haven’t walked, sat down, or laid down. You don’t need to—you can just close your eyes and float wherever you are.”
Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore had initially expected their mission to last longer than the planned eight to ten days since it was the first flight of the Starliner spacecraft. However, they didn’t anticipate being in space for several extra months.
“It was a bit of a shock, actually,” Williams said in an interview with CBS News. “We thought it would be about a month, but the extended stay turned out to be quite different.”
Despite the unexpected delay, Williams expressed that she’s enjoying her time in space and cherishes the opportunity to share her experiences with people on Earth. Still, the extended mission has had an impact on her personal life, particularly her connection with family.
“My mom’s getting older, so I try to stay in touch with her and my family as much as I can,” Williams explained. “I talk to my mom almost every day—to check in, see how she’s doing, and keep that bond strong. It’s different from what we originally planned, but we’re making it work.”
Williams added that her busy schedule and regular contact with her loved ones have helped her avoid feeling isolated during her extended stay.
Williams and Wilmore have been in space for seven months due to delays with the Starliner spacecraft, which raised safety concerns and led NASA to postpone their return to Earth.
Initially, they were scheduled to return via the SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon mission in February. However, their replacements are aboard SpaceX Crew-10, which is now set to launch in late March or April. In the meantime, Williams and Wilmore must remain on the ISS to ensure a smooth transition of operations.