National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronauts successfully completed repairs on the International Space Station (ISS).

Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore carried out a crucial spacewalk, contributing to the continued smooth operation of the ISS.

The spacewalk, which lasted five hours and 26 minutes on Thursday, January 30, marked the 274th spacewalk in the station's history. It began at 7:43 am ET and concluded at 1:09 pm ET.

During the mission, Williams and Wilmore removed a vital radio frequency group (RFG) antenna from the station's truss and collected surface material samples from the Destiny Laboratory and Quest airlock.

The RFG, an S-band antenna essential for station communications, had previously resisted removal during past spacewalks.

However, using a specially designed wrench, the veteran astronauts successfully removed the antenna, which will be refurbished on Earth.

The RFG plays a critical role in station operations, ensuring communication signals are transmitted and received while also helping maintain the station's orientation.

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft transported Williams and Wilmore to the ISS in June last year.

While they were initially scheduled to return to Earth after eight days, issues with the Starliner, including helium leaks and propulsion problems, led NASA to cancel their return flight. The spacecraft was sent back empty.

NASA now plans for Wilmore and Williams to return aboard the SpaceX Crew-9 capsule in late March after Crew-10 arrives at the ISS.