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| Nasa astronaut stuck in space ventures outside | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Watch: Astronaut stuck in space station ventures outside | Watch: Astronaut stuck in space station ventures outside |
| Nasa astronaut Suni Williams, one of two astronauts stuck on the International Space Station, ventured outside for a spacewalk on Thursday for the first time since arriving on board seven months ago. | |
| Ms Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore were due to return to Earth after a week-long mission in June 2024 but their return has been delayed because of a technical issue. | Ms Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore were due to return to Earth after a week-long mission in June 2024 but their return has been delayed because of a technical issue. |
| They now won't be back until late March or possibly April. | They now won't be back until late March or possibly April. |
| Ms Williams - an experienced astronaut who has conducted many spacewalks during previous stays aboard the ISS - teamed up with astronaut Nick Hague on Thursday to perform maintenance on the craft. | Ms Williams - an experienced astronaut who has conducted many spacewalks during previous stays aboard the ISS - teamed up with astronaut Nick Hague on Thursday to perform maintenance on the craft. |
| Their tasks include repairing equipment that governs station orientation, patch light filters on the NICER X-ray telescope, and replacing a reflector device on an international docking adapter. | Their tasks include repairing equipment that governs station orientation, patch light filters on the NICER X-ray telescope, and replacing a reflector device on an international docking adapter. |
| Additionally, the pair will check access areas and connector tools that will be used for future maintenance work on the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, a particle physics experiment module mounted on the ISS. | Additionally, the pair will check access areas and connector tools that will be used for future maintenance work on the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, a particle physics experiment module mounted on the ISS. |
| Ms Williams will conduct a second spacewalk on 23 January with Mr Wilmore. | Ms Williams will conduct a second spacewalk on 23 January with Mr Wilmore. |
| Together, they will remove a radio frequency group antenna assembly (a collection of components designed to transmit and receive radio waves) and collect surface samples for microorganism analysis. | Together, they will remove a radio frequency group antenna assembly (a collection of components designed to transmit and receive radio waves) and collect surface samples for microorganism analysis. |
| They will also prepare a backup elbow joint for the Canadarm2 robotic arm by positioning the joint in the optimal configuration for a quick replacement if needed. | They will also prepare a backup elbow joint for the Canadarm2 robotic arm by positioning the joint in the optimal configuration for a quick replacement if needed. |
| Each spacewalk is expected to last about six and a half hours. | Each spacewalk is expected to last about six and a half hours. |
| Nasa is providing live coverage of both spacewalks that can be viewed here, external. | |
| Astronaut Sunita Williams will perform two spacewalks this month | Astronaut Sunita Williams will perform two spacewalks this month |
| Nicole McElroy, a Flight Director at Nasa, said in a press briefing before the spacewalk that "The road to our preparations for all of these EVAs (extra-vehicular activity) has been going well. | |
| "The crew on board has been studying their procedures, getting familiar with all of the tasks, and are really excited and looking forward to going out the door." | "The crew on board has been studying their procedures, getting familiar with all of the tasks, and are really excited and looking forward to going out the door." |
| Ms Williams and Mr Wilmore went on what was meant to be an eight day mission to the ISS aboard Boeing's Starliner in June 2024. | Ms Williams and Mr Wilmore went on what was meant to be an eight day mission to the ISS aboard Boeing's Starliner in June 2024. |
| However, technical issues including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions meant that the Starliner was unsafe for their return. | However, technical issues including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions meant that the Starliner was unsafe for their return. |
| Nasa plans to bring them back to Earth in late March aboard a spaceship built by SpaceX, a rival company of Boeing. | |
| Despite these setbacks, the astronauts have continued their work aboard the ISS while awaiting a safe journey home. | Despite these setbacks, the astronauts have continued their work aboard the ISS while awaiting a safe journey home. |