NASA has confirmed that astronaut Suni Williams, currently aboard the International Space Station, is in excellent health despite circulating rumors of her experiencing medical issues.

The announcement from NASA's chief medical official came as a response to news articles and social media chatter suggesting that Williams had lost a significant amount of weight during her extended stay in orbit. These rumors had sparked widespread concern among the public.

In an interview with the New England Sports Network on Tuesday, Williams herself addressed the situation, clarifying that her weight had remained stable and dismissing the rumors. "I think there's some rumors around outside there that I'm losing weight and stuff," said Williams. "No, I'm actually right at the same amount."

Williams, 59, and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore had their mission duration extended from eight days to eight months due to propulsion problems with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft that transported them to the space station in June. NASA emphasized that although the astronauts would not return aboard the Starliner, they were not stranded. Instead, Williams and Wilmore were integrated into the space station crew and are scheduled to return to Earth on a SpaceX Crew Dragon in February.

Despite NASA's reassurances, speculation persisted after a photograph released in late September showed Williams and Wilmore making pizza on the station, with Williams appearing unusually thin. This image further fueled the rumors that prompted NASA’s recent clarification about her health status.

This incident highlights the challenges astronauts can face due to extended missions and equipment malfunctions, but NASA's current updates confirm that both Williams and Wilmore remain in good health as they continue their contributions to space research and exploration.