Stuck in space, Sunita Williams breaks spacewalking record

Astronaut Sunita “Suni” Williams, who has been stranded in space for months, set a new record for total spacewalking time on January 30, surpassing former astronaut Peggy Whitson’s previous record of 60 hours and 21 minutes, according to the International Space Station (ISS).

In a post on X, the ISS announced that the NASA astronaut had broken Whitson’s record while working outside the station to remove radio communications hardware. Williams’ spacewalking, her ninth overall, was part of Expedition 72 and marked the 92nd spacewalk by a U.S. astronaut. NASA livestreamed the event on YouTube and its website.

The spacewalk began at approximately 8 a.m. EST, during which Williams collected surface material samples from the Destiny laboratory and Quest airlock for analysis while maintaining ISS hardware. She wore a spacesuit with red stripes, while fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore, who joined her for his fifth spacewalking, wore an unmarked suit.

Williams and Wilmore have been stranded on the ISS since June 2024 after their spacecraft encountered mechanical failures and was sent back to Earth without them. They have been working on Expedition 72 since September 23, 2024, and are expected to return on the Crew 9 mission at the end of March 2025, bringing their total time in space to nearly 300 days.

The situation sparked political controversy after SpaceX founder Elon Musk posted on X that President Biden had asked his company to bring the astronauts home “as soon as possible,” criticizing the administration for leaving them stranded for so long. Former President Donald Trump also weighed in, claiming on Truth Social that the Biden administration had “abandoned” the astronauts and urging Musk to retrieve them.

The political fallout over the astronauts’ prolonged stay on the ISS has intensified, with both sides exchanging accusations over the delay in their return. While NASA officials have repeatedly emphasized that the issue stems from technical challenges rather than political decisions, critics argue that the Biden administration should have prioritized a faster solution.

NASA has remained focused on ensuring a safe return for Williams and Wilmore. In an official statement, the agency reiterated that “crew safety remains our highest priority,” and confirmed that engineers have been working closely with Boeing and SpaceX to finalize a return plan. The Crew 9 mission, currently scheduled for late March, will bring the astronauts back aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.

Meanwhile, the delays have drawn renewed scrutiny on Boeing’s Starliner program, which was responsible for transporting the astronauts to the ISS. The spacecraft’s malfunction in June led to its premature return to Earth, leaving Williams and Wilmore stranded. The setback has further strained Boeing’s commercial spaceflight operations, already under pressure following previous delays and technical issues with Starliner.

SpaceX, which has become NASA’s primary partner for astronaut transport, has stepped in to coordinate the upcoming Crew 9 mission. While Musk’s remarks have sparked controversy, SpaceX remains committed to executing the mission as planned. NASA officials have reassured the public that the astronauts are safe and continuing their work aboard the ISS while awaiting their return.

Williams, a veteran astronaut with a decorated career, has remained focused on her duties despite the uncertainty surrounding her return. Having already logged more than 300 days in space across multiple missions, she has now cemented her legacy with the new spacewalking record. Wilmore, also an experienced astronaut, has similarly maintained a steady routine of experiments and maintenance work on the ISS.

As the March return date approaches, NASA and SpaceX continue to finalize mission details, while political debates over the delay persist. For now, Williams and Wilmore remain on the ISS, carrying out their mission as the world watches and awaits their long-overdue journey home.