In a much-awaited development, Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, the commander of the International Space Station (ISS), on Thursday ventured for her first spacewalk in over seven months. Williams was joined by NASA astronaut Nick Haag for the essential outdoor repair work, marking an important moment in their extended stay aboard the ISS.
Williams, who launched last June aboard Boeing's Starliner capsule with fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore, had initially planned a short, week-long mission.
However, delays caused by problems with the Starliner capsule led to a lengthy stay, as NASA decided to return the capsule to Earth without passengers. Additionally, SpaceX's delay in launching their replacement crew has extended Williams and Wilmore's stay even further, meaning the pair will remain in space until late March or early April – a full ten months since their first launch.
The spacewalk was the first of its kind since NASA astronauts had to cancel one last summer. An airlock leak caused by a problem with the astronaut suit's cooling loop had temporarily halted American spacewalks. Fortunately, NASA has confirmed that the problem has now been resolved, allowing Williams and Den Haag to resume their outdoor operations.
For Williams, this was her eighth spacewalk, an impressive feat for the veteran astronaut, who has spent a lot of time on the ISS in the past. Although originally scheduled for next week, another spacewalk with astronaut Butch Wilmore is now in the works, providing another crucial opportunity for repairs and maintenance at the orbiting laboratory.
NASA has not yet announced the exact date for Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore's return to Earth. However, the two Starliner astronauts, currently 'stranded' in space, are not expected to return until late March or possibly April, due to a delay in the launch of their replacement crew.
During a call with NASA officials earlier in January, Sunita Williams stated, “It doesn't feel like we're stranded. Although we want to get home soon because we have been away from our family for a while, there is still a lot to be accomplished while we are here.”