They had travelled to the International Space Station (ISS) on board Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner.

• Starliner experienced helium leaks and a malfunctioning thruster, which helps steer and control reentry making it unsafe for astronauts.
• Soviet cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov holds the record for the longest single stay in space, spending 438 days aboard the Mir space station.

Opportunities from Extended Stay

• Medical Research: Offers a rare chance to study unplanned long-term space exposure and its effects on the human body.
• Technology Testing: Helps assess how life-support systems, spacecraft, and onboard equipment perform beyond their intended mission durations.
• Deep-Space Mission Preparation: Provides valuable data for planning future Mars and lunar missions, where astronauts will spend extended periods in space.

Health Challenges in Space:

• Space Radiation: Exposure to cosmic rays and solar radiation increases the risk of cancer and other radiation-induced illnesses. 
• Gravity Fields: Microgravity leads to muscle atrophy and bone density loss, while re-exposure to Earth's gravity can affect balance and coordination.
  • NASA observes weight-bearing bone loss of 1% to 1.5% per month in microgravity.
• Isolation and Confinement: The psychological effects of being in confined spaces away from Earth can impact mental well-being and team dynamics.