Butch Wilmore inside the International Space Station (Instagram/@iss)

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore’s extended mission has raised questions about space travel, particularly the morbid topic of death in space. Their mission, initially planned for a week, was extended due to technical issues, prompting speculation about what happens if an astronaut dies during a mission.

Astronaut Chris Hadfield explained that NASA runs “contingency simulations” to prepare for such situations. If an astronaut dies during an EVA (spacewalk), the body is kept in their spacesuit and stored in a cold place on the station to prevent decomposition and unpleasant odors.

NASA also trains astronauts in medical emergencies, and they maintain a robust pharmacy aboard. While astronauts may enjoy varied food like pizza and shrimp cocktails, they also face limited fresh produce. Surprisingly, astronauts receive no special overtime pay—only small daily allowances.

Returning to Earth affects their health; astronauts grow taller in space, but the lack of gravity leads to muscle and bone loss. Mental health is also impacted by long space missions, requiring resilience to adjust back to life on Earth.

Sunita Williams during an extravehicular activity (NASA)

The astronauts splashed down on Tuesday evening (18 March) (Keegan Barber/NASA via Getty Images)