Sunita Williams Replies To Concerns Over Her Health, Says 'My ...

Sunita Williams on the ISS during the interview.

Source : YouTube@NASAgovVideo

Astronaut Sunita Williams has addressed concerns over her health in an interview with an American TV channel. Pictures released by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration earlier this month sparked concerns over her health with media reports calling her "visibly thinner" due to the unplanned prolonged stay in outer space. However, in her latest interview, Sunita Williams appeared ship-shape.

"Suni" Williams dismissed the rumours of deteriorating health. The NASA astronaut said that there have been changes in her body but she is weighs the same as she did when she arrived at the ISS. "I think there are some rumours out there that I am losing weight. But no, I am actually at the same weight that I was when I got up her [ISS]..."

Sunita Williams explained that the crew has a spring mass dampener that helps them keep track of their weight, which, in turn, helps NASA monitor their health. Detailing her fitness routine in space, Williams said: "Butch [Wilmore] and I have been here for a number of months. We have been on the workout gear. We have a bike, a treadmill, and weightlifting equipment." She said that she did not do much of weightlifting when on Earth, but it has changed her quite a bit in space. "My thighs and bu*t are a little bit bigger. We do a lot of squats and go back to the treadmill because we are working on hour bone density, hips and our feet." 

"You have probably heard of fluid shift, where the heads of folks in space look a little bit bigger because the fluid evens out along the body," she further said.

Sunita Williams explained that the ISS is supplied with pre-cooked packaged food which is heated and rehydrated before eating. "Among my favourites is a Turkish fish stew, which is really good with olives and other things in it. We have rice to go along with it." She said most of the food is moist to avoid flaky particles creeping into different areas of the ISS.

The food may not look as good as it does in a restaurant, but it's "really tasty", Williams said. The menu on the ISS is changed every week. The ISS also got a bunch of treats for the ISS crew recently.

Sunita Williams said the crew on the International Space Station were hurtling through space at 17,500 miles per hour (28,163.52 kmph), which takes them around 1.5 hours to go around the Earth.

Published at : 15 Nov 2024 08:47 AM (IST)