The astronauts who have been in space for an unexpectedly monthslong assignment are conducting a spacewalk.
Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are traveling outside the International Space Station to collect samples to determine whether microorganisms exist on the outside of the orbiting laboratory. By doing so, Williams now holds the record for total spacewalk time by a woman, surpassing the one set by former astronaut Peggy Whitson. Williams’ record of 62 hours, six minutes was reached upon completing her ninth spacewalk today.
The spacewalk began this morning and is streaming on NASA's YouTube channel and NASA-plus. It's expected to last about six and a half hours.
The two arrived at the ISS in June on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, but a technical issue left them at the station without the vehicle.
NASA notes that a plan to return them safely to Earth is in place, likely in March.