Sunita Williams Return Live Updates: Native village celebrates, govt calls her 'illustrious daughter of India'

 

Sunita Williams Return Live Updates: Native village celebrates, govt calls her 'illustrious daughter of India'

Sunita Williams Return Live: The hatch of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying the astronauts was sealed at 11:05 p.m. ET on Monday. In the next 40 minutes, the crew put on their flight suits, strapped into their seats, and completed leak checks, ensuring the vehicle was ready for departure.

Departure: The spacecraft successfully undocked from the International Space Station as scheduled. While NASA has ended its live video stream of the event, it continues to provide audio coverage of the astronauts’ communications with mission control, which can be accessed on YouTube.

Splashdown: The Crew Dragon capsule is expected to splash down off Florida’s Gulf Coast at approximately 5:57 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Recovery teams will retrieve the spacecraft and assist the astronauts as they exit onto a waiting ship. Shortly after, the crew will be flown to Houston, home of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Video coverage of the landing will begin at 4:45 pm ET

08:11 (IST) Mar 19

Sunita Williams Return Live: 'Rewritten history of human endurance,' says Rajnath Singh lauds Sunita Williams return to Earth

In a social media post on X, Rajnath said, "Delighted at the safe return of NASA’s Crew 9 on Earth! The crew comprising of India’s daughter Sunita Williams and other astronauts, have rewritten the history of human endurance and perseverance in Space"

07:43 (IST) Mar 19

Sunita Williams Return Live: 'A moment of glory , pride and relief': Union minister Jitendra Singh hails Sunita Williams return to Earth

In a social media post on X, Union minister Jitendra Singh lauded Nasa astronaut Sunita Williams' return and said, "A moment of glory , pride and relief! The whole world comes together to celebrate the safe return of this illustrious daughter of India who has instantly gone down in the history for the courage, conviction and consistency with which she endured the uncertainties of Space."

07:36 (IST) Mar 19

Sunita Williams Return Live: What Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore might experience upon returning to Earth

Extended stays in microgravity, such as those aboard the International Space Station (ISS), significantly affect the human body in multiple ways, including bone and muscle loss, circulatory changes, vision impairment, and skin sensitivity.

Bone and muscle loss

Without the gravitational resistance, astronauts experience a loss of bone density at a rate of about 1-2% per month and muscle atrophy, particularly in the legs, trunk, and even the heart. To mitigate these effects, astronauts on the ISS follow daily exercise routines. However, some loss is inevitable, and astronauts require months of rehabilitation after returning to Earth to regain their strength.

Circulatory and cardiovascular changes

In microgravity, the heart does less work because it doesn't need to pump blood against gravity. Blood distribution shifts, leading to a puffy face and thinner legs, and fluids accumulate in the head, causing astronauts to feel as though they have a constant cold. These changes in circulation increase the risk of blood clots, which scientists monitor closely upon the astronauts' return to Earth.

Vision impairment and brain fluid accumulation

Astronauts often develop vision problems due to fluid buildup in the head, which alters the shape of the eyeball. This condition, known as Spaceflight-Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS), can cause blurred vision, and in some cases, astronauts may need to wear glasses permanently.

Skin sensitivity

Microgravity also increases skin sensitivity. With clothing floating away from the skin, astronauts experience softer, more sensitive skin. Upon returning to Earth, some astronauts report that everyday fabrics feel like sandpaper against their skin.

Radiation exposure

One of the major risks of long-duration space travel is radiation exposure. Without Earth's protective atmosphere and magnetic field, astronauts are exposed to higher levels of cosmic radiation, which increases their risk of developing cancer and neurological disorders.

07:31 (IST) Mar 19

Sunita Williams Return Live: Why SpaceX's Dragon took 17 hours while Russia's Soyuz returns in just 3.5 hours

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams experienced a 17-hour journey back to Earth aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon, a significantly longer return time compared to Russia’s Soyuz, which took just 3.5 hours. The extended duration of the Crew Dragon’s return prioritized safety and precision, featuring gradual orbit-lowering burns, a controlled reentry, and a parachute-assisted splashdown off the Florida coast, with adjustments made for weather and landing conditions. In contrast, Soyuz utilized a faster, ballistic descent, landing at a fixed site in Kazakhstan, sacrificing comfort for speed.