CThey are adventures that begin with clear objectives and end up turning into tests of resilience. This is the case of the NASA mission featuring protagonists astronaut Suni Williams and colleague Butch Wilmore. They left last June aboard the capsule Starliner of Boeing, they would have to spend a week on the International Space Station (ISS). But i technical problems of the vehicle extended their stay, turning a short mission into an odyssey that will last at least ten months.
Astronaut Suni Williams’ spacewalk
Suni Williams, veteran astronaut with numerous spacewalks under his belt, he faced a new exit outside the ISS, the first since she got stuck. Together with colleague Nick Hague, he completed crucial tasks: from repair of station orientation instrumentsto the maintenance of components of the NICER telescope, up to the preparation of a reserve joint for the robotic arm Canadarm2. All in a six hour walk, described by NASA as “completely successful”.
A return to Earth postponed several times
The technical difficulties of Starlinerincluding helium leaks and thruster problemsprompted NASA to order the reentry of the uncrewed capsule. To complicate the situation, even the SpaceX delays in the launch of substitutes. Thus, the return of Williams and Wilmore to Earth was postponed to late March or early April 2025.
The next challenges for astronauts
Astronaut Suni Williams’ work isn’t done. A second spacewalk is scheduled for January 23rdthis time with fellow (mis)adventure Butch Wilmore. The pair will have to remove obsolete radio antennas, collect surface samples for biological analysis and prepare new equipment for future missions. There determination and adaptability astronauts demonstrate how, even in the most complex situations, the mission of science continues unabated.
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