Indian-American Astronaut Sunita Williams’ 9-Month Space Mission: Recovery, Diet, and Earnings

by | Mar 20, 2025 | Fashion and Tech, Fitness & Lifestyle, Home | 0 comments

Indian-American Astronaut Sunita Williams’ 9-Month Space Mission: Recovery, Diet, and Earnings

After spending nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have begun a 45-day rehabilitation program to regain strength and readjust to Earth’s gravity. Due to Boeing Starliner delays, their extended stay in space has led to muscle loss and balance issues, making physical recovery crucial.

Rehabilitation After Space: The Road to Recovery

Returning from space isn’t just about landing safely—astronauts must undergo intense rehabilitation to counteract the effects of prolonged weightlessness. Their program includes:

Strength Training – Helps rebuild lost muscle mass

Bone Recovery Therapy – Combats bone density loss

Balance Training – Re-adapts the body to Earth’s gravity

Cardiovascular Conditioning – Strengthens the heart and circulatory system

Eating in Space: Astronaut Sunita Williams’ Diet and Research

One of the biggest challenges in space is nutrition. Williams’ diet consisted of pre-packaged comfort foods like pizza, roast chicken, and shrimp cocktails, along with freeze-dried fruits and vegetables. With limited access to fresh produce, she took part in NASA’s BioNutrients project, conducting research on growing romaine lettuce in space—a breakthrough step for future deep-space missions.

Astronaut Salaries: How Much Did They Earn after their 9-months space mission?

Despite the high risks and demanding nature of space missions, astronauts do not receive overtime pay. Former NASA astronaut Cady Coleman confirmed that their salaries remain within the standard GS-15 federal pay scale.

Annual Salary:

$125,133 – $162,672 (₹1.08 crore to ₹1.41 crore)

Prorated Salary for 9-Month ISS Mission:

 $93,850 – $122,004 (₹81 lakh to ₹1.05 crore)

 Total Earnings (Including Allowances):

$94,998 – $123,152 (₹82 lakh to ₹1.06 crore)

With rigorous physical rehabilitation, groundbreaking space research, and a demanding job that extends beyond Earth, astronauts like Sunita Williams continue to pave the way for future space exploration while inspiring generations.

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