Tue Nov 19 16:04:54 UTC 2024: ## Stranded Astronauts Feast on Pizza and Roast Chicken Amidst Supply Concerns

**Houston, TX** – Two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for five months due to a malfunctioning Boeing Starliner spacecraft. While their diet consists of surprisingly varied fare including pizza, roast chicken, and shrimp cocktail, concerns have arisen regarding their health after recent photos showed Williams appearing gaunt.

A specialist involved with the Starliner mission assures the public that the astronauts receive approximately 3.8 pounds of food per person daily, a personalized supply including freeze-dried and packaged meals. While the food, prepared at the Space Food Systems Laboratory, is sufficient in terms of caloric intake, the astronauts have limited access to fresh produce. The ISS receives fresh fruit and vegetables only every three months, with supplies dwindling as the three-month period progresses.

Williams addressed public concerns about her weight loss, attributing her thinner appearance to fluid shifts caused by the weightlessness of space, and denying any significant weight loss. The specialist reiterated that the astronauts’ diets are meticulously monitored by NASA doctors, and any weight changes are not due to food shortages. The ISS boasts a robust food supply, even for extended missions, with water recycled from urine and sweat.

The astronauts, who were originally slated for an eight-day mission, are expected to return to Earth in February via a SpaceX flight.

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