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Updated 21:00 IST, January 30th 2025

'Here We Go': Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore — NASA's 2 Stuck Astronauts Take Their First Spacewalk Together

The duo's mission includes a blend of maintenance tasks and scientific research.

Reported by: Digital Desk
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spacewalk | Image: NASA

At approximately 6 PM, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore embarked on an essential spacewalk from the International Space Station (ISS). The duo's mission includes a blend of maintenance tasks and scientific research, highlighting the continuous endeavour to enhance life and operations in space.

Williams, distinguished by her suit adorned with red stripes, and Wilmore, in an unmarked suit, are working to remove a radio frequency group antenna assembly from the station’s truss. This antenna removal is crucial for upgrading the station's communication systems, ensuring reliable data transmission between the ISS and Earth.

Beyond maintenance, the astronauts are also conducting groundbreaking scientific experiments. They are collecting samples of surface material from both the Destiny laboratory and the Quest airlock. This task aims to investigate whether microorganisms can survive on the exterior of the station, offering insights into the resilience of life in extreme environments and informing future space missions about contamination control.

Here Is What You Need to Know

Additionally, their spacewalk includes preparations for future operations with the Canadarm2, the station's primary robotic arm. They are setting up a spare elbow joint, which is vital for the arm's functionality in tasks like satellite capture, station assembly, and maintenance.

NASA's coverage of this event is available on NASA+, providing viewers a window into the intricacies of space missions. Fans of space exploration can also follow the mission through various platforms, including social media, where NASA regularly updates the public on the progress of such spacewalks.

'Here We Go'

The astronauts floated out to perform maintenance work and wipe the station’s exterior for evidence of any microbes that might still be alive after launching from Earth and escaping through vents. “Here we go,” Wilmore said as he emerged 260 miles (420 kilometers) above Spain.

The pair expected to stay just a week when they arrived at the space station last June. But their brand new ride, Boeing’s Starliner capsule, encountered so much trouble that NASA decided to return it empty.

That left the two test pilots, both retired Navy captains, in orbit until SpaceX can bring them home. That won’t happen until late March or early April, extending their mission to 10 months because of a SpaceX delay in launching their replacements.

Williams performed a spacewalk two weeks ago with another NASA astronaut. It marked Wilmore's first time outside this trip. Both racked up spacewalks during previous space station stays.

Published 19:31 IST, January 30th 2025