NASA astronaut Suni Williams and fellow astronaut Nick Hague conducted a spacewalk on January 16, 2025, outside the International Space Station (ISS). During this 8-hour operation, they replaced a rate gyro assembly crucial for maintaining the station's orientation. This spacewalk marked Hague's fourth and Williams' eighth.
In addition to the gyro replacement, the astronauts installed patches on the NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer) X-ray telescope's light filters and replaced a reflector device on an international docking adapter. They also inspected access areas and connector tools for future maintenance of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer.
Meanwhile, the Shenzhou XIX crew, consisting of astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong, and Wang Haoze, has been actively engaged in operations aboard the Tiangong space station since their arrival on October 30, 2024. On January 21, 2025, they completed their first extravehicular activity (EVA), which lasted 8.5 hours. The crew installed protective devices against space debris and conducted an extravehicular inspection, with support from the station's robotic arm and ground teams.
The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced that the Shenzhou XIX crew has completed nearly half of their scheduled mission in orbit. They are also conducting various scientific experiments and technological demonstrations, with plans to celebrate the Spring Festival aboard the station. The crew's second EVA is forthcoming, and they are expected to return to Earth in late April or early May.
These developments underscore significant advancements in both NASA and China's space exploration efforts, marking milestones in international cooperation and technological progress in human spaceflight.