In a significant development aboard the International Space Station (ISS), NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are currently performing a spacewalk to execute critical maintenance tasks. This operation, which commenced this morning, is being broadcast live on NASA’s YouTube channel and NASA+. The spacewalk is anticipated to last approximately six and a half hours.
The primary objectives of today’s spacewalk include the removal of a malfunctioning antenna and the collection of samples from the station’s exterior to assess the presence of microorganisms. Despite initial challenges in detaching the faulty antenna, Williams and Wilmore successfully completed the task after nearly four hours. Following this, they proceeded to swab various areas outside the station as part of the ISS External Microorganisms experiment, which aims to determine if the station releases microorganisms into space.
Williams and Wilmore arrived at the ISS in June 2024 aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, initially scheduled for a brief mission. However, technical complications with the Starliner, including propulsion system failures and helium leaks, led NASA to conclude that returning the astronauts via the same vehicle would be too risky. Consequently, the mission has been extended, with plans for their return now slated for late March or early April 2025 aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.
During this spacewalk, Suni Williams has set a new record for cumulative spacewalking time by a female astronaut. This marks her ninth career spacewalk, bringing her total to 62 hours and 6 minutes, surpassing the previous record held by Peggy Whitson.
NASA has outlined a strategy to ensure the safe return of Williams and Wilmore. The astronauts are expected to remain aboard the ISS until the arrival of the SpaceX Crew-10 mission, after which they will return to Earth aboard the Crew-9 Dragon capsule currently docked at the station. This plan underscores NASA’s commitment to astronaut safety and the importance of maintaining multiple transportation options for crewed missions.
