Thu Jan 16 14:16:04 UTC 2025: ## NASA Astronauts Conduct First Spacewalk Since 2024 Abort
**Cape Canaveral, FL – January 16, 2025** – NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Nick Hague conducted a successful spacewalk today, marking the first such mission by NASA astronauts since an aborted attempt last summer. The spacewalk, which took place 420km above Turkmenistan, focused on overdue repairs to the International Space Station (ISS), including work on the NICER X-ray telescope.
Williams, the ISS commander, and Hague completed the repairs during the spacewalk, which was Williams’ eighth. Their extended stay on the ISS is due to unforeseen delays. Originally launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule last June for a week-long test flight, mechanical issues prolonged their mission. Further delays caused by SpaceX postponed the launch of their replacements, extending their stay to approximately ten months. They are now expected to return to Earth in late March or early April.
The spacewalk was particularly significant given the pause in US spacewalks following a water leak incident in the ISS airlock last year. NASA has since confirmed the issue has been resolved. Williams is scheduled for another spacewalk next week with astronaut Butch Wilmore.
First Piper 