Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who have been on an extended mission following Boeing’s Starliner crewed test flight, conducted a spacewalk Thursday to remove degraded radio communications hardware and collect samples to determine whether microorganisms exist on the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS).
Initially focused on removing the hardware, a top-priority task, the astronauts faced slight delays but ultimately succeeded. Wilmore then proceeded to swab the station’s exterior for the ISS External Microorganisms experiment.
The spacewalk commenced at 7:43 a.m. ET and concluded at 1:09 p.m. ET, lasting 5 hours and 26 minutes. The entire event was streamed live on NASA+ and NASA’s YouTube channel.
Williams, in a white suit with red stripes, and Wilmore, in an unmarked suit, participated in the 274th spacewalk dedicated to ISS maintenance and upgrades. It marked Williams’ ninth career spacewalk and Wilmore’s fifth.
At 11:24 a.m. ET, Williams surpassed former astronaut Peggy Whitson’s record for total spacewalking time, reaching 62 hours and 6 minutes.
The astronauts removed the S-band antenna, also known as the radio frequency group, which had been unsuccessfully detached in two previous spacewalks. Using a specialized wrench, they successfully removed the bolts securing the hardware, which will be returned to Earth for refurbishment.
While Williams cleaned up the worksite, Wilmore collected samples near life support system vents to assess whether microorganisms are released from the station. Scientists are investigating how microorganisms survive sterilization and if they could impact future missions to the Moon and Mars. NASA’s planetary protection protocols aim to prevent human contamination of extraterrestrial environments and vice versa.
Researchers studying samples from asteroid Bennu found sodium salt minerals deposited through brine evaporation from the asteroid’s parent body, a discovery that highlights the potential risks of Earth-based contamination. Understanding the resilience of microorganisms in space is crucial for ensuring the integrity of future deep-space exploration missions.
NASA postponed a lower-priority task, preparing a spare joint for the Canadarm2 robotic arm, to a future spacewalk. Originally used for ISS assembly, Canadarm2 now facilitates astronaut mobility, spacecraft docking, and equipment handling.
Williams and Wilmore launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner in June, initially expected to return after eight days. However, technical issues, including helium leaks and propulsion malfunctions, led NASA to deem the spacecraft unsafe for their return. Starliner was sent back to Earth uncrewed.
NASA now plans to return the astronauts no earlier than late March aboard the SpaceX Crew-9 capsule, currently docked at the ISS. Their return depends on the arrival of Crew-10. By the time they come home, Williams and Wilmore will have spent nearly 10 months in space.
Recent comments from SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump on social media claimed the astronauts were “stranded,” but NASA refuted this, stating that Williams and Wilmore remain in good spirits. Williams recently conducted her eighth career spacewalk on January 16 alongside fellow astronaut Nick Hague.
“It’s just a great team and—no, it doesn’t feel like we’re castaways,” Williams said in a January 8 interview. “Eventually, we want to go home because we left our families a little while ago, but we have a lot to do while we’re up here.”
Source: Swifteradio.com
