Overview
- NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore conducted a spacewalk to remove degraded hardware and collect microorganism samples from the ISS exterior.
- The pair has been on the ISS since June 2024 after their Boeing Starliner capsule was deemed too risky for their return flight to Earth.
- NASA plans to bring the astronauts back to Earth in late March or early April aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft following the arrival of Crew-10.
- Former President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk criticized the previous administration, falsely claiming the astronauts were 'stranded' and 'abandoned' in space.
- NASA emphasized that the astronauts are safe, active members of the ISS crew and that their extended mission aligns with safety considerations and established plans.