Space Bug Capable of Infecting Respiratory System Detected At Space Station Hosting Sunita Williams, Crew

Trouble seems to be mounting for NASA’s Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams and her team of eight crew members on board the International Space Station (ISS) as a space bug, capable of causing health issues to the stationed astronauts, has been detected at the ISS.

According to NASA, scientists have found a multi-drug resistant bacteria named ‘Enterobacter bugandensis’ which has evolved and become more potent in the closed environment of the ISS.

Often called a ‘superbug’, this bacteria is multi-drug resistant and infects the human respiratory system.

“In a new scientific paper funded by an Ames Space Biology grant, Principal Investigator Dr Kasthuri Venkateswaran of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory strains of Enterobacter bugandensis isolated from the International Space Station (ISS) were studied. Thirteen strains of E bugandensis, a bacterium notorious for being multi-drug resistant, were isolated from the ISS,” NASA report stated.

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams flew to space for the third time on Wednesday along with a colleague, scripting history as the first members aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on a 25-hour flight to the International Space Station.

Boeing’s Crew Flight Test mission carrying Williams, and Butch Wilmore lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida after multiple delays.

Williams, 58, is the pilot for the flight test while Wilmore, 61, is the commander of the mission. The launch marks the beginning of the NASA-Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test (CFT).

Upon arrival at the ISS, Williams broke into an impromptu dance as she entered the International Space Station and received the ‘Bell Rings’ welcome along with her colleague Butch Wilmore according to US Naval tradition.

A video of the moment shared by NASA on their social media handle showed Williams entering the ISS docking area first to the loud clapping from the Expedition 71 colleagues as one of them rang the metal bell, clinking of which could be heard over and above the celebratory cheers.