By Mithilesh Singh 
Sunita Williams and her partner, Butch Wilmore, have been living on the International Space Station (ISS) for the past nine months. This has been a challenging but well-planned mission for them. Here’s how they managed to survive in space for such a long time:
- Managing Food and Nutrition
The ISS stores dehydrated and packaged food, which is rehydrated with hot water before consumption.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are sent periodically to the station.
Astronauts also take vitamin and mineral supplements to prevent nutritional deficiencies.
- Staying Physically Fit
On Earth, gravity helps keep us fit, but in space, weightlessness causes muscles and bones to weaken.
Sunita Williams had to exercise for two hours every day.
She ran on a treadmill and used special weight-training equipment.
- Oxygen and Water Management
Since there is no oxygen in space, the ISS has a recycling system to generate oxygen.
Water is filtered and recycled multiple times, even from sweat and urine, to ensure a sustainable supply.
- Mental Well-being and Entertainment
Living in space for a long time can cause mental stress.
To cope, Sunita practiced yoga and meditation.
She also had access to video calls, books, and movies to stay connected with her family and keep herself entertained.
- Handling Technical Issues
During their mission, they faced challenges such as helium leaks and thruster failures in their spacecraft.
With guidance from NASA’s ground team, Sunita and her team successfully managed these issues.
Was It Easy?
Not at all! Living in space for nine months is extremely difficult for any human, but Sunita Williams overcame the challenges with preparation, discipline, and courage. Now, she is preparing to return to Earth in March 2025.
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