Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams has been in space for over 50 days on Boeing Starliner’s maiden flight, which was supposed to be a 10-day mission. According to NASA, Williams, who is on her third space mission, and her fellow astronaut, Barry “Butch” Wilmore, have been assisting the Expedition 71 crew of seven astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) with maintenance as well as various experiments since June 6.
Gardening In Space
Williams investigated using fluid physics to overcome the lack of gravity when watering and nourishing plants being grown in space. This is important for gardening in space and is a very vital step towards understanding how plants grow and respond to microgravity conditions.
Williams and Wilmore also participated in vein scans using an ultrasound device helping researchers understand how microgravity affects the human body. Doctors on the ground monitored in real-time as the pair took turns imaging veins in each other’s neck, shoulder, and legs.
Advanced biology research is also underway aboard the ISS with astronauts exploring how living in space affects the human body and mind. Sunita Williams extracted DNA to identify microbe samples collected from water systems aboard the ISS.
NASA said in an update, “Engineering teams with NASA and Boeing recently completed ground hot fire testing of a Starliner reaction control system thruster at White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico, USA. The test series involved firing the engine through similar in-flight conditions the spacecraft experienced during its approach to the space station, as well as various stress-case firings for what is expected during Starliner’s undocking and the deorbit burn that will position the spacecraft for a landing in the southwestern United States. Teams are analysing the data from these tests.”
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