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.

Two NASA astronauts, left stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) after their spacecraft was deemed unfit for return, embarked on their first spacewalk together on Thursday—nearly eight months after their unexpected extended stay.

NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore completed a spacewalk Thursday while awaiting their delayed return to Earth. Williams set a new spacewalking record for female astronauts during the mission.