While there has been no confirmation on the return of Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, reports claim that Williams is facing an eyesight issue.
NASA astronaut Sunita Williams has recently undergone a series of eye and hearing tests while aboard the International Space Station (ISS). These tests are part of routine health monitoring for astronauts to understand the impact of prolonged space travel on the human body, particularly vision and hearing.
The eye scans focused on imaging her cornea, retina, and lens, with doctors on Earth monitoring the procedure in real-time. This helps researchers gather crucial data on how to protect and treat vision issues that may arise during long-duration space missions. Following these tests, Williams also underwent a hearing test, which is essential given the noisy environment of the ISS【6†source】【7†source】【8†source】.
These health checks have become especially important as Williams’ mission, initially intended to be brief, has been extended indefinitely due to technical problems with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft that was supposed to return her to Earth. NASA is exploring alternative return options, including potentially using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft in early 2025.