A NASA astronaut stranded on the International Space Station is on a spacewalk, with another operation planned

NASA astronauts Sunita “Sonny” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore certainly didn’t think they would be on the International Space Station for long when they left Earth in June. In fact, they initially expected to stay for only eight days. Now, with their return plans upended, they will return to Earth in late March. But in mid-January, at least one of them had to move out, and the other has plans to do so. Williams teamed up with astronaut Nick Hague for a space tour January 16and Williams and Willmore are preparing to walk into space together on January 30

On the Jan. 16 spacewalk, Williams and Hague replaced a modified gyroscopic assembly that helps maintain the station’s orbital orientation, NASA said. This was Hague’s fourth spacewalk and Williams’ eighth. The astronauts also installed patches to cover damaged areas of light filters on the neutron star interior X-ray telescope, replaced a reflector on one of the International Docking Adapters, and checked access areas and connector instruments that astronauts will use in the future Alpha magnetic spectrograph maintenance.

On the Jan. 30 spacewalk, which will begin at 8 a.m. ET and last six and a half hours, Williams and Willmore will remove radio antenna devices and search for microbes outside the orbital outpost.

The two stranded astronauts say that although they miss their families, they still have work to keep them busy.

“Ultimately we want to go home,” Williams said. The last press conference. “We left our families a short time ago, but we have a lot to do here and we need to accomplish these things before we leave.”

Back February is now March

Recently, NASA postponed Williams and Wilmore’s return to Earth from February to late March.

“NASA and SpaceX evaluated various options for managing the next crew delivery, including the use of another Dragon spacecraft and manifest modifications,” according to the American “space” website. NASA press release issued on December 17. “After careful consideration, the team decided that launching Crew-10 in late March, following completion of the new Dragon spacecraft, was the best option to meet NASA’s requirements and achieve its 2025 space station goals.”

The delay is so that NASA and SpaceX teams can complete work on the mission’s new Dragon spacecraft. This new vehicle will launch four crew members to the International Space Station – Commander Anne McClain, Commander Pilot Nicole Ayers, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos astronaut Kirill Peskov. Once the new crew is stabilized, Williams, Willmore, NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos astronaut Alexander Gorbunov will return to Earth.

But Williams and Wilmore aren’t complaining about their long stay.

“I love everything about being here.” Williams said In early December. “Living in space is a lot of fun.”

The astronauts stay busy, with Williams and Wilmore assisting other ISS residents with space botany studies and other research. According to NASA’s International Space Station blog. They assisted in more than 60 scientific studies during their nearly six months on board, The Washington Post reports.

Here’s what you need to know about what the two astronauts do.

Who are the astronauts?

Wilmore, 61, and Williams, 58, are veteran astronauts and are both former Navy officers and test pilots. Williams has been a NASA astronaut since 1998, and Wilmore since 2000. Both have significant space experience.

Williams is the previous record holder for most spacewalks by a woman (seven) and most spacewalk time by a woman (50 hours and 40 minutes), and in 2007, she ran the first marathon by anyone in space.

In 2009, Wilmore piloted the Space Shuttle Atlantis on its mission to the International Space Station, and in 2014, he was part of the International Space Station crew that used a 3D printer to manufacture a tool — a wrench — in space, the first time humans have done so. I created something out of the world.

What was their original mission in space?

Wilmore, as commander, and Williams, as pilot, traveled to the International Space Station aboard a 15-foot-wide Boeing-built capsule called Starliner. It was launched on June 5 and docked with the International Space Station on June 6. NASA hopes that the Starliner will give the organization a new way to transport crew to and from the International Space Station, and the fact that it is made by Boeing is another sign that NASA is starting to lean towards it. On the private sector of human spaceflight options, The New York Times I mentioned.

Willmore and Williams’ mission to the ISS was supposed to last just eight days, during which they would test aspects of the Starliner and see how it worked with a human crew in space. But due to complications with the Starliner, the two astronauts are still there.

What do astronauts eat?

Food on the International Space Station is a major focus, as fresh produce must be replenished every three months by delivery from Earth. On November 23, the unmanned Progress 90 resupply vehicle successfully docked with the International Space Station. But the last food delivery came with an unwanted smell.

“After opening the Progress spacecraft hatch, Roscosmos astronauts noticed an unexpected odor and observed small droplets, which prompted the crew to close the Poisk hatch to the rest of the Russian segment.” A NASA representative said In a statement posted on social media.

NASA said: “The space station’s air purifiers and pollutant sensors monitored the station’s atmosphere after observation, and on Sunday, flight controllers determined that the air quality inside the space station was at normal levels.” “There are no concerns for the crew, and as of Sunday afternoon, the crew is working to open the hatch between Poisk and Progress while all other space station operations are proceeding as planned.”

NASA revealed that their menu includes cereal with powdered milk, pizza, shrimp cocktails, grilled chicken and tuna.

The smell that came with the spacecraft wasn’t the only food-related concern of late, as some publications have questioned the astronauts’ thin appearance based on recent photos.

Dr. J.D. Polk, NASA’s chief health and medical officer, made an official statement saying that Williams and Wilmore were fine. “NASA and our partners have safely flown long-duration missions aboard the orbiting laboratory for decades, studying the effects of space on the human body as we prepare to explore farther into the solar system,” Polk said. “The crew’s health is regularly monitored by specialist flight surgeons on the ground, and they have an individual diet and fitness regime to ensure they stay healthy throughout their flights.”

Williams said she weighs the same as she did when she arrived at the International Space Station A video interview was conducted on November 12 On the International Space Station.

What do astronauts say?

The astronauts were positive about their experience. In a Live press conference In September, Williams said that although they knew their mission was only scheduled to take eight days, they had been “training for a number of years” for it. They are fully qualified to stay in space for an extended period of time, and to help pilot the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft that will bring them home next year.

“It’s very peaceful here,” Williams said on September 13, though she added that they missed their families on the ground.

The astronauts work on research, maintenance and data analysis during their long stay.

“We’re having a good time here on the International Space Station,” Williams said. In a press conference It was held from orbit in July. “I’m not complaining. Butch’s not complaining about us staying here a few more weeks.”

How did they get stuck in space in the first place?

the Starliner delayed In May due to a problem with the missile valve. Then engineers had to fix the helium leak. This is all bad news for Boeing. that it It competes with SpaceXwhich was Transporting astronauts to the International Space Station Since 2020, he has made more than 20 successful flights to the space station.

The Starliner vehicle finally launched on an Atlas 5 rocket on June 5, but with it came some problems. NASA announced this Three helium leaks They were identified, one that was known before the trip, and two that were new. In addition to the leaks, the crew had to troubleshoot failed control engines, although the vehicle was able to successfully dock with the International Space Station.

SpaceX has also faced failures. A The Falcon 9 rocket exploded On the launch pad in 2016. In July of this year, a Falcon 9 rocket leaked liquid oxygen and deployed its satellites into the wrong orbit, according to the New York Times. I mentioned. The Falcon 9 rocket in late August lost its first stage booster when it fell into the Atlantic Ocean and fell into the Atlantic Ocean. It caught fire.

However, SpaceX has more than 300 successful projects Falcon 9 flights to its balance.

Stuck in Space: Timeline

• May: Starliner launch was delayed due to a problem with the rocket’s valve and then a helium leak.
• June 5: The Starliner spacecraft was launched with Williams and Willmore on board.
• June 6: Starliner docks with the International Space Station despite dealing with three helium leaks and a thrust control failure.
• September 6: The Starliner spacecraft departs the International Space Station and lands in New Mexico, leaving Williams and Willmore behind.
• September 28: The SpaceX Crew-9 mission was launched with Hague and Gorbunov aboard the Dragon spacecraft.
• September 29: SpaceX Dragon docking with the International Space Station.
• December 17: NASA announces the postponement of the launch of a four-person crew to the International Space Station from February to late March.
• March 2025 onwards: The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will return to Earth with Williams, Willmore, Hague and Gorbunov on board.