What NASA’s ‘stranded’ astronauts ate to survive a 9-month mission meant to last 8 days

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore have finally returned to Earth after what was supposed to be an eight-day mission turned into a staggering nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The extended mission raised questions about how they managed their daily lives, including one crucial aspect—food.

While stranded in space, Williams and Wilmore relied on the ISS’s stocked food supplies, which included pre-packaged and freeze-dried meals designed to last for months.

Their diet featured a mix of protein-rich and carbohydrate-packed options, such as shrimp cocktails, roast chicken, pizza, tuna, and breakfast cereals with powdered milk.

One challenge they faced was the limited availability of fresh produce, as fresh fruits and vegetables only arrive during resupply missions, which happen roughly every three months.

Despite this, the ISS is equipped with enough provisions to support astronauts for extended periods, providing an average of 3.8 pounds of food per astronaut daily.

Even after 286 days in space, both astronauts maintained their health and returned in good condition. Williams even addressed speculation about potential weight loss, clarifying that any changes in her appearance were due to fluid shifts in microgravity rather than actual weight loss.

Their remarkable return aboard SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom spacecraft on March 18, 2025, marked the end of a journey that saw them complete 4,576 orbits around Earth and travel approximately 195 million kilometers.

Their unexpected endurance test serves as a testament to NASA’s preparation for extended space missions and the resilience of astronauts in adapting to the unknown.