Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore have received news of their extended stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS) until June 18, marking a significant continuation of Williams’ space journey.
Contrary to reports of a ‘superbug’ discovery on the space station, the decision for extension predates Williams’ arrival, with NASA focusing on evaluating Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. This craft ferried Williams and Wilmore to the ISS on June 5.
Originally slated to return on June 10 following a brief stay, the astronauts’ extended mission aims to facilitate thorough assessments and tests on the Starliner, crucial for certifying it for future manned missions to the ISS.
“The extra days in space will allow teams more time to checkout Starliner’s systems and free up the Expedition crew’s schedule for more spacewalk preparations,” said NASA officials, referring to upcoming extravehicular activities.
Williams wasted no time upon arrival, performing computer maintenance while Wilmore worked on installing hardware for a forthcoming space fire investigation.
For Williams, who holds records for the most spacewalks (7) and time spent spacewalking (50 hours, 40 minutes) by a woman during her previous missions, this extension offers another opportunity to solidify her place in space exploration history.
Additionally, the prolonged mission allows Williams to further embrace her Indian-Slovenian heritage in space, having brought cultural items such as samosas aboard the Starliner.
