Sunita Williams Sets Record for Total Spacewalking Time by a Woman Astronaut

Washington – Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams has made history by surpassing the record for total spacewalking time by a female astronaut. She has now logged an impressive 62 hours and 6 minutes of extravehicular activity (EVA).

Williams, along with fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore, conducted a spacewalk on Thursday while aboard the International Space Station (ISS), where they have been stranded since June 2024. The pair stepped outside the ISS to remove outdated radio communication hardware and collect samples that may indicate the presence of microorganisms on the station’s exterior.

The spacewalk, which lasted 5 hours and 26 minutes, began at 7:43 AM Eastern Time (ET) and concluded at 1:09 PM ET. It marked Williams’ ninth spacewalk and Wilmore’s fifth.

NASA acknowledged Williams’ achievement in a post on X, stating: “NASA astronaut Suni Williams has just surpassed former astronaut Peggy Whitson’s total spacewalking time of 60 hours and 21 minutes.” This milestone places Williams fourth on NASA’s all-time list for total EVA time.

Apart from her spacewalking accomplishments, Williams is known for her athletic feats in space. In 2012, she became the first person to complete a triathlon in space, simulating swimming with a weight-lifting machine and running on a treadmill while strapped into a harness to prevent floating.

Williams, 59, and Wilmore originally embarked on an eight-day mission to the ISS in June 2024 aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. However, technical failures—including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions—rendered the Starliner unsafe for their return.

NASA now plans to bring them back to Earth in late March aboard a SpaceX spacecraft, a competitor to Boeing. Despite the unexpected delay, Williams and Wilmore have continued their scientific work aboard the ISS while awaiting their safe return.