NASA faces problem due to weight loss in space, know why?

Seeing Sukalakadi in the recently released pictures, experts were surprised about the health of Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams. Sunita has lost a lot of weight and looks very thin. In such a situation, the priority is to normalize his weight.

This is responsible for the duration of the mission

Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams and her partner Barry Wilmore were sent into space by Boeing Starliner on June 5 this year. Initially his mission was only for eight days, but technical malfunctions in the Starliner led to his stay in space being extended. Meanwhile, being stuck in space for a long time has affected his health. Now their space mission has been extended by eight months and their return to Earth will be possible only by February 2025. Therefore, now NASA is paying full attention to maintaining his health condition.

What causes weight loss in space?

Weight loss in space is a common phenomenon, especially on long missions. According to statistics, astronauts need more calories than people living on Earth. At the beginning of the mission, Sunita Williams weighed 63.5 kg and was 5 feet 8 inches tall. But even the high calorie food prepared for them was not meeting their needs.

In space, the human body’s metabolism speeds up, causing them to need more calories. NASA experts say the average astronaut should consume 3500 to 4000 calories per day to maintain his weight. Apart from this, to keep the body fit in zero gravity, about two hours of exercise is required every day, which burns calories and also reduces weight.

Special favor for Sunita Williams

NASA doctors have started monitoring Sunita Williams’ health about a month ago. So that good steps can be taken to improve Sunita’s condition. Sunita is advised to eat up to 5000 calories per day to meet her body’s energy requirements and maintain her weight.

NASA has found through several studies that space travel has a more negative impact on women. According to a 2023 study, women suffer more muscle damage than men during space travel. Because of this, female astronauts have to be more careful.