What Sunita Williams can eat in space: A startling photo reveals her weight reduction

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams

What Sunita Williams can eat in space: Indian-origin NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has been in space for months after she left Earth on the Boeing Starliner in June for an 8 day trip. Now NASA says Williams and her fellow astronaut Barry Wilmore may not return till February 2025.

As concern grows about the astronauts’ health, shocking images of a hollow-cheeked Williams have emerged from the International Space Station (ISS). The astronaut is facing a health crisis after her Starliner spacecraft malfunctioned.

The images have raised concerns about significant weight loss and nutritional deficiencies which are a common problem for astronauts when they are in space for long periods. Doctors say the pictures are worrying and the “natural stresses of living at very high altitude” are getting to the astronauts’ bodies.

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Questions are also being asked if the astronaut is running out of food before her expected return in February 2025. NASA had said in August that the ISS has enough supplies for the crew.

Since zero gravity works differently, the type of food that can be eaten by astronauts is modified. According to NASA, there are different types of space food that astronauts can eat during their stay in space.

Most common is dehydrated food. As per NASA, water is removed from rehydratable foods to make them easier to store. These can be rehydrated to be eaten by astronauts in space.

Next is thermostabilised food like fruits and fish in cans and puddings which can be kept at room temperature. Other foods like dried peaches, pears, apricots and meat can be eaten as is while nuts, granola bars and cookies are ready to eat.

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There is also frozen food like quiches, casseroles and chicken pot pie. In the viral picture, Williams was seen eating a pizza which was most likely frozen.

Williams and Wilmore will return to Earth in February on the SpaceX Dragon. The timeline for their return depends on the dragon schedule aligning with Nasa’s broader operational and logistical plans for the ISS. Till then, maintaining their health and well-being will be the priority for Nasa’s medical science monitoring crew’s physical status providing remote support for their nutrition, exercise and psychological health.

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