Sunita Williams Marks First Spacewalk in 12 Years, Completes Vital ISS Maintenance

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams successfully completed her eighth spacewalk Thursday, going the first actual spacewalk since her arrival at the International Space Station seven months ago. The various tasks performed in the space walk include time spent cooperating with Nick Hague on tasks in the flight.

Sunita Williams, with fellow astronaut Nick Hague, performed a spacewalk from the ISS to perform much-needed maintenance. The two astronauts replaced a reflector device on the international docking adapter, serviced light filters on the NICER X-ray telescope, and adjusted equipment that controls the station’s orientation. They also checked tools and access points for future maintenance of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, a crucial particle physics instrument on the ISS.

The six-hour spacewalk was Williams’ first in 12 years, and NASA officials said the mission proceeded without a hitch, with the pair completing all assigned tasks. As Williams stepped out into low-Earth orbit, she exclaimed over the radio, “I’m coming out,” marking the beginning of her first spacewalk in over a decade.

Delayed Return to Earth of Sunita Williams

NASA had scheduled Williams and her fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore to return to Earth after a week-long mission in June 2024. Now, the duo’s return will be late March or early April 2025 because of the technical malfunction that has developed with their spacecraft.

Meanwhile, Williams and Wilmore will prepare for their second spacewalk, scheduled for January 23, 2025. They will spend time together, removing a radio frequency group antenna assembly and obtaining surface samples that will be studied for microorganisms. The astronauts will also set up a backup elbow joint for the Canadarm2 robotic arm, allowing the arm to be ready in case of future repairs.

Setbacks and Technical Challenges During Space Missions

Williams and Wilmore launched originally aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule in June 2024 to spend a week-long test mission. However, due to technical problems with the spacecraft, their return was delayed. NASA later instructed the Starliner capsule to return empty due to the problem.

Despite these challenges, NASA will continue to rely on Williams as an integral part of its space exploration efforts, with her work on the ISS positively contributing to the understanding of space and its impact on human health.