Sunita Williams to embark on first spacewalk in 12 years on THIS date, will replace...

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams is set to step outside the International Space Station (ISS) for her first spacewalk in over a decade. Scheduled for January 16, she will join fellow astronaut Nick Hague to repair and upgrade the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) X-ray telescope, as part of "US spacewalk 91."

During this mission, the astronauts will replace a critical rate gyro assembly essential for maintaining the ISS's orientation. They will also inspect and replace light filters on the NICER telescope and upgrade a navigation reflector on one of the station's docking adapters. Additionally, they will assess tools and access points required for future maintenance of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer.

On Jan. 16, @NASA_Astronauts Nick Hague and Suni Williams will exit the space station to repair the NICER X-ray telescope. Hague, along with station astronaut Don Pettit, trained for the spacewalk last year. More... https://t.co/RKGk6DOWVe https://t.co/GpQBetjtOs

— International Space Station (@Space_Station) January 8, 2025

NICER is set to become the first NASA observatory repaired in orbit since the Hubble Space Telescope's servicing mission in 2009. The ISS shared updates on social media, confirming the significance of this repair. Sunita Williams, wearing an unmarked spacesuit, will perform her eighth spacewalk, while Hague, in a suit with red stripes, will lead his fourth.

A second spacewalk, "US spacewalk 92," will follow on January 23, where Williams will team up with astronaut Butch Wilmore. Their tasks include removing an antenna assembly, preparing a spare joint for the Canadarm2 robotic arm, and testing for microbial life on the ISS's exterior.

Both missions are part of NASA's efforts to maintain and upgrade the ISS. These spacewalks mark the 273rd and 274th conducted for the station’s upkeep.

Originally scheduled to return to Earth in February 2025, Sunita Williams' return has been delayed to March 2025 due to safety concerns with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.