NASA astronauts still stranded in space take first spacewalk together
NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore ventured outside the International Space Station (ISS) for a spacewalk on Thursday, months after their planned return to Earth was postponed.
The two test pilots, who arrived in June aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule, were originally scheduled to stay for just a week. However, technical issues with Starliner prompted NASA to return it without a crew, leaving the astronauts aboard the ISS indefinitely.
During the spacewalk, the pair removed a broken antenna and collected microbial samples from the station’s exterior. The mission took nearly four hours, with some difficulty in unbolting the faulty equipment.
Why are NASA astronauts still stranded in space?
The backstory:
Wilmore and Williams have been stranded in orbit due to delays in NASA’s astronaut rotation schedule. Initially, they were expected to return home aboard Starliner, Boeing’s new space capsule, but NASA deemed it unsafe for crewed reentry.
Instead, they will have to wait until late March or early April, when SpaceX launches their replacements and brings them home.
The delay extends their mission to 10 months, much longer than the brief test flight originally planned. NASA officials say the extended stay does not pose health risks but is an unexpected challenge for the astronauts.
What happened during the spacewalk?
Big picture view:
Thursday’s spacewalk marked a significant achievement for Williams, who now holds the record for the most time spent spacewalking by a female astronaut.
Over her career, she has completed nine spacewalks, surpassing the previous record of 60 hours and 21 minutes held by retired astronaut Peggy Whitson.
FILE - In this handout photo provided by NASA, the International Space Station is seen over a blue and white Earth. (Photo by NASA via Getty Images)
Williams previously conducted another spacewalk just two weeks ago with a fellow NASA astronaut. Wilmore, who had completed spacewalks during prior missions, made his first excursion outside the ISS on this trip.
How long will the astronauts remain at the space station?
What's next:
NASA will continue monitoring the astronauts’ health and mission progress as they await their return aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule. Meanwhile, Boeing is expected to address the Starliner’s technical failures before its next scheduled test flight.
NASA has not announced an exact date for their return but maintains that the astronauts remain in good health and high spirits despite the prolonged mission.
The Source: This article is based on reporting from the Associated Press, which detailed NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore's first spacewalk together as they remain stranded aboard the International Space Station.