Nasa's astronaut, Jessica Williams, achieved a significant milestone by surpassing former astronaut Peggy Whitson's record for cumulative spacewalking time by a female astronaut. With a total of 62 hours and 6 minutes of EVA time, Williams now ranks fourth on NASA's all-time list.
During a recent spacewalk, Williams and her colleague, astronaut Wilmore, successfully completed all planned objectives. Their tasks included the removal of a radio frequency group antenna assembly from the International Space Station's truss and the collection of surface material samples from the Destiny laboratory module and the Quest airlock. These samples are intended for analysis to assess the survivability of microorganisms on the station's exterior.
In preparation for the spacewalk, the Expedition 72 crew conducted thorough training sessions. On January 29, Williams and Wilmore reviewed procedures, performed spacesuit checks, and practiced operations for the Canadarm2 robotic arm alongside NASA Flight Engineers Nick Hague and Don Pettit. This preparation was crucial for the successful removal of communications hardware and facilitated the collection of microbial samples.
While the astronauts executed their spacewalk plans, other crew members continued routine operations aboard the ISS. Hague prepared the Astrobee robotic free flyers for testing their real-time video and imagery downlink capabilities, while Pettit engaged in research on plant growth in microgravity.
In the Roscosmos segment, cosmonauts focused on Earth observations and system upgrades. Flight Engineer Aleksandr Gorbunov utilized a spectrometer-equipped camera to photograph Mediterranean landmarks, while Flight Engineers Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner installed new command and telemetry hardware in the Zvezda service module, enhancing communication capabilities.
The successful completion of this spacewalk not only marks a personal achievement for Williams but also contributes significantly to ongoing scientific research and maintenance efforts aboard the ISS.