NASA Astronaut Sunita Williams Shares Journey and Effects of Space on the Human Body

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams recently opened up about her journey to becoming a pilot and the unique physiological changes that astronauts experience while in space. Inspired by the film ‘Top Gun‘, Williams initially aspired to fly jets, stating, ‘As a pilot, I wanted to fly jets because ‘Top Gun’ had just come out, and it seemed cool, but I became a helicopter pilot instead.’

During her talk in India in January 2018, she further recounted her career path, mentioning, ‘My path wasn’t straight, and it wasn’t until my mid-twenties, after attending test pilot school and meeting astronauts, that I realized I had some of the same qualifications they did. That’s when I thought, ‘Maybe this is a path I can take.’’

Williams shared her childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian due to her love for animals. However, her journey led her to the field of aviation and eventually to the stars.

Regarding the physiological impacts of staying in space, Williams stated that some challenges, such as radiation, remain unavoidable despite NASA’s countermeasures. Observations of bodily changes in microgravity can be quite interesting. For instance, she noted, ‘Calluses on your feet disappear because you don’t walk, and I noticed my fingernails and hair grew faster.’

She also explained how gravity affects the human body, explaining, ‘Without gravity, some wrinkles on your face might temporarily smooth out due to fluid shifting upwards. Your spine also expands because there’s no pressure on the cartilage between your vertebrae, making you slightly taller in space.’ However, these changes revert when the astronauts return to Earth.

One of the prominent issues of long-term space travel is the loss of bone density and muscle mass. Williams elaborated, ‘In microgravity, bones start to lose density quickly. To counteract this, we exercise rigorously with specialised equipment. We run on treadmills with harnesses to simulate gravity and lift weights to maintain muscle mass, particularly in the hips and legs.’

Additionally, she mentioned the need for cardiovascular fitness through the use of exercise bikes. After returning to Earth, astronauts typically experience a fluid imbalance that takes about 24 to 48 hours to normalize, allowing them to resume regular physical activities.