Indian-Origin Astronaut Sunita Williams Marks 50 Days In Space, Does 'Gardening' Amid Boeing Starliner Setbacks

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams has now been in space for over 50 days after having embarked on Boeing Starliner's maiden flight for a planned 10-day mission.

The Starliner encountered propulsion system issues due to helium leaks, but NASA has confirmed that Williams and fellow astronaut Barry "Butch" Wilmore are safe aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Since 6 June, they have been assisting the Expedition 71 crew with maintenance and various experiments as per a report by NDTV.

NASA reported that Williams, a veteran on her third space mission, has been exploring fluid physics to address the challenges of watering and nourishing plants in microgravity, an essential step for future space gardening and understanding plant growth in space.

Williams and Wilmore also conducted vein scans using an ultrasound device, with real-time monitoring by ground-based doctors.

They imaged veins in each other's neck, shoulder, and legs, and Williams scanned the veins of fellow NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick. This research helps understand the effects of microgravity on the human body.

Advanced biology research is ongoing aboard the ISS, exploring how space affects human biology and psychology. Williams extracted DNA to identify microbes from the ISS water systems, which may improve crew health and spacecraft cleanliness on future missions.

Meanwhile, Boeing engineers are testing thruster replicas on Earth to diagnose the Starliner's issues and safely return the crew.

NASA's update mentioned that engineering teams recently completed ground hot fire tests of a Starliner thruster at White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico.

An update from engineers is expected on Thursday, which may include the likely date for Williams and Wilmore's return to Earth.