NASA Astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore to address public from space after extended ISS stay
Washington: NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are set to make their first public appearance since the announcement of their extended stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The Earth-to-space call is scheduled for 11:45 PM IST tonight, where the duo will share updates on their mission.
Williams and Wilmore were launched aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft on June 5, 2024, for what was originally an eight-day mission. However, technical issues with the Starliner prompted NASA to bring the spacecraft back to Earth without its crew, resulting in an unexpected extension of the astronauts’ stay on the ISS until February 2025.
During the live conference, the astronauts are expected to discuss their ongoing scientific research, life aboard the space station, and their experiences throughout this extended mission. The call presents a rare opportunity for the public to hear firsthand about their work and well-being during their prolonged time in space.
In a notable development, the ISS crew recently expanded with the arrival of NASA astronaut Don Pettit and Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Wagner. The new team members will work alongside Williams and Wilmore until spring 2025, contributing to the station’s scientific endeavors.
Health monitoring remains a critical activity for the crew. Williams and Wilmore recently underwent thorough eye examinations using standard medical imaging technology, with support from ground teams monitoring the procedures in real-time. In addition to health checks, the astronauts have been actively engaged in various scientific tasks onboard the orbiting laboratory.
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Pakistan reports two more polio cases; Total tally now 52
ISLAMABAD: At least two more cases of poliovirus were reported in Pakistan, taking the number of infections to 52 so far this year, a report said on Friday.
“The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the detection of two more wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases in Pakistan," an official statement said.
The fresh infections — a boy and a girl — were reported from the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
“Genetic sequencing of the samples collected from the children is underway," the statement read. Dera Ismail Khan, one of the seven polio-endemic districts of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has reported five polio cases so far this year.
Of the 52 cases in the country this year, 24 are from Balochistan, 13 from Sindh, 13 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.
There is no cure for polio. Only multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine vaccination schedule for all children under the age of five can keep them protected.
