Sunita Williams Shatters Records in Spacewalk
Williams' record-breaking spacewalk time surpasses Peggy Whitson's previous record of 60 hours and 21 minutes, set in 2017, cementing her position as one of the most accomplished female astronauts in history, with a total of 62 hours and 6 minutes of spacewalk time.
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore completed a 7-hour spacewalk on January 30, marking the 274th spacewalk in support of International Space Station assembly, maintenance, and upgrades, with Williams surpassing Peggy Whitson's record of total spacewalking time by a female astronaut.
The spacewalkers successfully removed a radio frequency group antenna assembly from the station's truss and collected samples from the Destiny laboratory and Quest airlock for analysis. This spacewalk was a significant milestone, as the RFG component is crucial to the station's primary command and data antenna assembly. Williams, who rode the Canadarm2 robotic arm to the work site, used a combination of approaches and brute force to finally free the unit, which had been stuck due to a central latching bolt.
The removal was attempted in April 2023, but had been unsuccessful, making this achievement even more notable. Williams and Wilmore finished their tasks and left for their airlock at 1:09 p.m. EST, marking the end of a successful spacewalk. With this achievement, Williams now holds the record for the most time spent in space by a woman, with 62 hours and 6 minutes of spacewalk time.
This record-breaking spacewalk highlights the importance of space exploration and the achievements of female astronauts like Sunita Williams, who continue to push the boundaries of human spaceflight. As NASA continues to advance its space program, the contributions of astronauts like Williams will remain crucial to the success of future missions.