Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore finally step outside ISS temporarily after eight months
After being stranded in space for eight months, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore conducted their first joint spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday. The duo ventured out to carry out maintenance work and inspect the station’s exterior for any surviving Earth microbes.
As they exited the station, orbiting 420 kilometers above Earth, Wilmore remarked, “Here we go,” in a moment captured on NASA’s livestream on X.
Their extended stay aboard the ISS was the result of technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, which brought them to the station in June 2024 for what was initially planned as an eight-day mission. However, complications forced NASA to alter the return plan, with rival aerospace company SpaceX stepping in to handle their repatriation.
NASA announced on Wednesday that it was collaborating with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring the astronauts back "as soon as practical." The statement came a day after former U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that SpaceX would soon undertake a mission to bring them home.
The delay in their return was further extended due to SpaceX preparing a new spacecraft, pushing the timeline beyond the initially scheduled February window. Meanwhile, NASA is also finalizing plans for the launch of Crew-10, which will facilitate a handover between ISS expeditions.
LIVE: @NASA_Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are taking a spacewalk to maintain @Space_Station hardware and collect samples. Today's spacewalk is scheduled to start at 8am ET (1300 UTC) and go for about 6.5 hours. https://t.co/6pvzcwPdgs
— NASA (@NASA) January 30, 2025
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Syeda Kashmira Simran clears Civil Judge Examinations in first attempt, secures 30th rank
Madikeri: In a major academic feat, Syeda Kashmira Simran, daughter of late Kashmir Simran Syed Nazir Ahmed and Syeda Nikhat Asma, founders of Mountain View School, Virajpet town, has been selected for the post of Civil Judge. She cleared and secured the 30th rank in the first attempt.
Syeda completed her primary and secondary education at Mountain View School, established by her parents in Virajpet, and pursued her pre-university education in Mangaluru.
She later obtained her BBA LL.B. degree from Vidya Vikas College in Mysuru.
In 2023, she began practicing as an advocate in Virajpet under the guidance of I.R. Pramod.
Speaking to Prajavani, Syeda said, “My father and mother gave high priority to education. They also strongly believed that girls should pursue higher education and lead a self-reliant life. I am now satisfied that I have fulfilled their dream.”
So far, four advocates who trained under the guidance of I.R. Pramod has been selected as Civil Judges.
More than 10,000 candidates appeared for the Civil Judge Examination, of whom 83 were selected. Among them, Syeda Kasmira Simran secured the 30th rank.
