When the return shuttle for the International Space Station encountered technical difficulties, astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore were left stranded for nine months. Now, safely back on Earth, Williams has decided that it would be her last space trip and has retired from NASA.
At 60 years old, Williams has had a record-breaking career with NASA as an astronaut. Before making international headlines for being stranded in orbit, Williams had already broken many records, not only as a female astronaut, but for space-faring overall, pushing boundaries in NASA and space travel.
In her 27-year career with NASA, Williams spent a total of 608 days in space, taking the second-highest count of any NASA astronaut. She also clocked in 68 hours of spacewalk, which is more than any other female astronaut and fourth overall, making her one of the most experienced astronauts in history.
Despite her contributions to space science, Williams only really shot into public attention when the Boeing return shuttle used by the ISS failed, resulting in her and fellow astronaut, Wilmore, being stranded for nine months. As teams on Earth scrambled for a solution, she was left waiting, carrying out her orbital duties.
During their time in space, they made many public appearances, streaming their experiences for the media, scientific institutions, and educational centers around the world. Their time aboard the ISS wasn’t unprecedented as far as lengthy space stays go, but it did give cause for concern in terms of their health and well-being.
Regular check-ins by Williams and Wilmore reassured the world that, although they were stranded indefinitely, they were holding up. Some health issues were suffered by both astronauts after such a long stint in space — dizziness, fatigue, muscle weakness, bone density reduction, and balance issues have all had to be addressed — and they went into recovery upon returning.
However, for Sunita Williams, her nine-month trip to the International Space Station was enough. Almost three decades of space travel and scientific discovery mark her impressive career with NASA. Now, at 60 years old, she can keep her feet firmly on Earth.
