International Space Station (ISS) Commander Sunita Williams is preparing for her scheduled return to Earth in February 2025. In the lead-up to her departure, Williams is conducting essential training aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and performing vital maintenance on station equipment, including a pre-spacewalk inspection of a U.S. spacesuit.
Recently, Williams completed a series of important checks on her suit before joining NASA Flight Engineer Butch Wilmore for an eye exam using the Ultrasound 2 device. The astronauts took turns scanning each other’s eyes while specialists on the ground monitored their corneas, lenses, and optic nerves in real time. Wilmore also assisted with cargo transfers between the Kibo and Columbus laboratory modules, as well as the installation of air quality sensors in the Quest module.
Maintaining operational readiness on the ISS is a key focus for the crew. Flight Engineer Nick Hague has been working on micro-algae research to explore its potential for carbon dioxide removal, oxygen production, and as a food source during long-duration space missions. Hague processed algae samples in the BioLab to analyze the effects of microgravity and radiation on their growth. Hague also participated in training exercises with his SpaceX Crew-9 team, preparing for a spring 2025 Earth return.
In addition to her technical duties, Williams recently participated in a virtual session with students from Sunita Williams Elementary School in Needham, Massachusetts. She shared her experiences aboard the ISS, including the unique challenge of drinking liquids in zero gravity. In space, traditional drinking methods are ineffective due to the floating nature of liquids. Astronauts use specially designed pouches with straws to control the flow of liquid, preventing spills. Williams quipped, “I never thought something as simple as drinking could be so tricky, but in space, we have to think about everything!”
Meanwhile, Williams and fellow astronauts completed the transfer of cargo to the Dragon spacecraft for a scheduled return to Earth. SpaceX has set a new undocking window for the CRS-31 Dragon resupply mission, targeting Monday, December 16, 2024. This adjustment follows a decision to delay the planned December 14 undocking due to unfavorable weather conditions near the splashdown sites off Florida’s coast.
Williams and Wilmore arrived at the ISS on June 6, 2024, aboard Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule. Their original return was delayed after the capsule experienced thruster failures and helium leaks. NASA deemed it unsafe to return at the time, and the astronauts remained aboard the station. Despite the extended stay, Williams has described the ISS as her “happy place,” noting that she feels comfortable and capable in the microgravity environment. With 431 days spent in space, Williams is no stranger to the challenges and rewards of life in orbit.
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