NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are set to address the public tonight at 11:45 pm IST, marking their first communication since the announcement of their extended stay on the International Space Station (ISS). The live Earth-to-space call comes after technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft led to the extension of their mission until February 2025.
Originally scheduled for just eight days, the mission was prolonged due to problems with the spacecraft, which will now return to Earth without its crew. During tonight’s live conference, Williams and Wilmore are expected to discuss their ongoing scientific research, daily routines aboard the ISS, and their experiences throughout this extended mission.
The call presents a rare opportunity for space enthusiasts and the public to hear directly from the astronauts about their work and well-being in space. The ISS has recently welcomed three new crew members: NASA astronaut Don Pettit and Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Wagner. The new team will work alongside Williams and Wilmore until spring 2025, contributing to the station’s scientific projects.
In preparation for their prolonged stay, Williams and Wilmore have undergone comprehensive eye examinations. These checks are part of routine health monitoring to address vision issues reported by astronauts on extended missions. The eye tests, conducted with standard medical imaging equipment, are closely monitored by ground personnel to ensure the astronauts’ well-being.
Aside from health checks, the astronauts have been engaged in various scientific tasks. Williams has been involved in combustion research within the Kibo laboratory module and handling cargo transfers from the Cygnus space freighter. Wilmore has focused on power supply components in the Columbus module and analyzing microbe samples for ongoing experiments.
As NASA prepares for the astronauts’ return via a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft in early 2025, tonight’s live conference will offer valuable insights into life aboard the ISS and the challenges associated with long-term space missions.
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