Astronaut Sunita Williams embarks on first of two spacewalks
Their tasks include repairing equipment that governs station orientation, patch light filters on the NICER X-ray telescope, and replacing a reflector device on an international docking adapter.
Additionally, the pair will check access areas and connector tools that will be used for future maintenance work on the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, a particle physics experiment module mounted on the ISS.
Ms Williams will conduct a second spacewalk on 23 January with Mr Wilmore.
Together, they will remove a radio frequency group antenna assembly (a collection of components designed to transmit and receive radio waves) and collect surface samples for microorganism analysis.
They will also prepare a backup elbow joint for the Canadarm2 robotic arm by positioning the joint in the optimal configuration for a quick replacement if needed.
Each spacewalk is expected to last about six and a half hours.
NASA is providing live coverage of both spacewalks that can be viewed here, external.
