NASA's Stuck Astronauts Successfully Complete Their First Spacewalk Together

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NASA's Stuck Astronauts Successfully Complete Their First Spacewalk Together

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THEGUARDIAN

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NASA's Stuck Astronauts Successfully Complete Their First Spacewalk Together

Credited from: THEGUARDIAN

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA’s two stranded astronauts, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, successfully completed their first spacewalk together on Thursday, nearly eight months after arriving at the International Space Station.

The duo performed necessary maintenance tasks and scrutinized the station’s exterior for any surviving microbes that may have escaped through launch vents. As they began their mission outside, Wilmore enthusiastically remarked, “Here we go,” while floating 260 miles (420 kilometers) above Spain.

Originally, Williams and Wilmore were scheduled for a brief week-long mission aboard the station, but complications with their transport, Boeing's Starliner capsule, led to an empty return. This has necessitated their extended stay until SpaceX is able to send a replacement crew, now expected around late March or early April, pushing their mission duration to a surprising 10 months.

Williams had previously conducted a spacewalk with another astronaut two weeks prior, while this marked Wilmore’s first venture outside during this trip. Both pilots, retired Navy captains, have significant prior experience with spacewalks throughout their careers as astronauts.

For more insights on their mission, visit The Guardian or check out the detailed report at AP News.