Overview

• NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Nick Hague performed a 6.5-hour spacewalk to repair and upgrade ISS equipment, including the NICER X-ray telescope and navigation systems.
• This was Williams' eighth career spacewalk and her first in 12 years, marking a significant milestone during her extended stay aboard the ISS.
• Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore initially launched on Boeing's Starliner for a planned eight-day mission in June 2024, but thruster issues left them unable to return as scheduled.
• NASA plans to bring Williams and Wilmore back to Earth in late March or early April 2025 aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule, following delays in spacecraft readiness.
• A second spacewalk is scheduled for January 23, where Williams and Wilmore will conduct additional maintenance and collect surface material samples from the ISS exterior.