In a much-awaited development, Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, commander of the International Space Station (ISS), on Thursday stepped out for her first spacewalk in more than seven months. Williams joined NASA astronaut Nick Hague for the necessary outdoor repair work, a key moment in his extended stay on the ISS.
Williams, who launched last June aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule with fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore, had initially planned a short weeklong mission.
However, delays caused by problems with the Starliner capsule led to a longer pause, as NASA decided to return the capsule to Earth without passengers. Additionally, SpaceX’s delay in launching its replacement crew further extended Williams and Wilmore’s stay, meaning the pair will remain in space until late March or early April – a full ten years since their initial launch. Month.
It was the first spacewalk of its kind since NASA astronauts were forced to cancel a spacewalk last summer. An airlock leak caused by a problem in the astronaut suit’s cooling loop temporarily halted a US spacewalk. Fortunately, NASA confirmed that the problem had been resolved, allowing Williams and Hague to resume outside duties.
For Williams, this is his eighth spacewalk, an impressive feat for the experienced astronaut who has spent considerable time on the ISS in the past. Although originally planned for next week, work is now underway on another spacewalk with astronaut Butch Wilmore, providing another important opportunity for repairs and maintenance at the orbiting laboratory.
NASA has not yet revealed the exact date of Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore’s return to Earth. However, the two Starliner astronauts, who are currently “stranded” in space, are not expected to return until late March or possibly April due to delays in the launch of their replacement crew.
During discussions with NASA officials in early January, Sunita Williams said, “It doesn’t feel like we are stranded. Although we want to return home soon, because we have been away from our families for some time “While we are here, we still have a lot to achieve.”
