Suni Williams set a record for walking time in space

Williams and Wilmore, a member of the 72 expedition on the ISS after being launched by Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, started a 5 -hour walking trip at 7:43 on January 30. After preparing the cable and tools, Wilmore moved to the RFG workplace (radio frequency group), while Williams uses CanadarMMM Robot arm to meet Wilmore at the S -right antenna of the skeleton of the station skeleton .

The removal of broken RFG, an important component of the station’s main antenna system and data, was first tested in April 2023 but failed due to a central lock bolt that could not be opened. Astronaut Nasa Stephen Bowen, who has participated in the previous pedestrian trip, was present in the control center to support this new effort.

A second walk in October 2023 was also tasked with trying to recover RFG but only enough time to check it. Two other efforts in June 2024 were interrupted before operating outside the vehicle (EVA) may start due to equipment problems on space shirts. After many efforts RFG are finally removed and will return to the Earth for recycling.

The trip outside of January 30 is Wilmore’s fifth time, bringing the total time to walk outside his space to 31 hours and 2 minutes. As for Williams is the ninth time. Currently she has recorded 62 hours and 6 minutes. During the operation of this vehicle, she surpassed the record of time in the universe for the longest by women. The previous record was 60 hours and 21 minutes set by Nasa Peggy Whiton in 2017. Whiton still holds the record with the most walking in the most space by a woman with 10 times. Williams is currently ranked fourth on the global list of total walking time in space.

Williams and Wilmore came to ISS on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft in June on the first driving test flight. Initially they were expected to work on the ISS station for about 8 days because this was only a test task. However, due to the incident of the push engine and leak on Boeing’s Starliner, they had to stay.

It is expected that Williams and Wilmore will return to Earth on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon in February 2025 with two astronauts of the Crew-9 mission, to ISS in September 2024.