Historic Spacewalk and ISS Call Highlight Milestones for NASA and SpaceX

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore are set for a press conference from the ISS, following their return on Starliner. Meanwhile, the Polaris Dawn crew made history with the first commercial spacewalk, highlighting significant advancements in human spaceflight.

NASA astronauts Sunita 'Suni' Williams and Barry 'Butch' Wilmore are scheduled to participate in a press conference from the International Space Station (ISS) on September 13, announced NASA. The call to Earth is slated for 2:15 p.m. EDT, connecting with the newsroom at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The duo had launched on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft on June 5 for its inaugural crewed flight, reaching the ISS on June 6. The spacecraft returned to Earth uncrewed on September 6, landing safely at White Sands Space Harbor, New Mexico, after over three months in space. Before its return, the astronauts thanked flight controllers for their support. Sunita Williams remarked, 'You guys, it's time to bring Calypso home. We have your backs and you got this. Bring her back to Earth.'

The astronauts will remain on the ISS as part of the Expedition 71/72 crew until February 2025 when they return on SpaceX Dragon with NASA's SpaceX Crew-9 mission. In a separate milestone, the Polaris Dawn crew completed the first-ever commercial spacewalk. Outfitted in new SpaceX EVA suits, they conducted a two-hour operation at 3:12 a.m. EDT, at 17,500 mph in an elliptical orbit of 190 x 700 km. Their mission included testing suit mobility, thermal systems, and the Dragon mobility aid 'Skywalker.'

Commander Jared Isaacman and Mission Specialist Sarah Gillis executed the spacewalk, while Mission Pilot Scott 'Kidd' Poteet and Medical Officer Anna Menon provided support. Once back inside, the Dragon capsule was re-pressurized. Isaacman reflected on the experience: 'Earth sure looks like a perfect world from up here.' NASA Administrator Bill Nelson congratulated the team on social media, emphasizing the importance of commercial spaceflight to NASA's goals. The Polaris Dawn mission aims for a splashdown off Florida's coast, with exact details yet to be released.

(With inputs from agencies.)