Two astronauts to hang outside Space Station for 7 hours today, conduct repairs
Although the International Space Station has been continuously inhabited for more than 25 years, Nasa has admitted that repairs like these are expected. Here's what this one is about.
Nasa astronauts are set to carry out US Spacewalk 95 outside the International Space Station (ISS) today, June 30, in a crucial maintenance mission to repair one of the station's most important robotic systems.
The operation is expected to last around seven hours.
Nasa astronauts Chris Williams and Jessica Meir will leave the station through the Quest airlock to replace a faulty wrist joint on Canadarm2, the ISS's Canadian-built robotic arm that plays a vital role in station operations.
WHY IS NASA CONDUCTING SPACEWALK 95?
The repair became necessary after one of Canadarm2's wrist joints malfunctioned during routine operations last month, on May 27.
Nasa and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) found that the joint drew unusually high motor current and failed to move as expected, prompting engineers to decide that it must be replaced during a spacewalk by the spare replacement joint that is already stored aboard the space station.
Canadarm2 is one of the ISS's most critical pieces of equipment. The 17.6-metre robotic arm captures visiting cargo spacecraft, moves astronauts during spacewalks, relocates large station components and supports maintenance work.
Since entering service in 2001, Canadarm2 has become indispensable for the day-to-day functioning of the orbiting laboratory.
Although the ISS has been continuously inhabited for more than 25 years, Nasa has said that repairs like these are expected.
That is also the reason why Canadarm2 was designed with replaceable parts so that astronauts can service it in orbit rather than replace the entire system.
WHY IS US SPACEWALK 95 A BIG DEAL?
The upcoming operation will be Jessica Meir's fifth spacewalk and Chris Williams' second.
Williams will wear the spacesuit with red stripes, identifying him as spacewalk crew member 1, while Meir will wear an unmarked suit.
The mission will also mark the 280th spacewalk conducted in support of the assembly, maintenance and continued upgrades of the International Space Station.
Spacewalks, also known as extravehicular activities (EVAs), remain among the most demanding operations in human spaceflight.
Astronauts spend hours working in the vacuum of space while tethered to the station, carrying out repairs and upgrades that cannot be completed remotely.
As the ISS continues to age, such maintenance missions are becoming increasingly important to ensure the orbiting laboratory remains fully operational for scientific research and international cooperation until the end of its planned service life.
The spacewalk is scheduled to begin at 6:05 pm IST, while Nasa's live coverage will start at 4:30 pm IST on the space agency's platform NASA+, YouTube, Amazon Prime and Netflix.
Nasa astronauts are set to carry out US Spacewalk 95 outside the International Space Station (ISS) today, June 30, in a crucial maintenance mission to repair one of the station's most important robotic systems.
The operation is expected to last around seven hours.
Nasa astronauts Chris Williams and Jessica Meir will leave the station through the Quest airlock to replace a faulty wrist joint on Canadarm2, the ISS's Canadian-built robotic arm that plays a vital role in station operations.
WHY IS NASA CONDUCTING SPACEWALK 95?
The repair became necessary after one of Canadarm2's wrist joints malfunctioned during routine operations last month, on May 27.
Nasa and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) found that the joint drew unusually high motor current and failed to move as expected, prompting engineers to decide that it must be replaced during a spacewalk by the spare replacement joint that is already stored aboard the space station.
Canadarm2 is one of the ISS's most critical pieces of equipment. The 17.6-metre robotic arm captures visiting cargo spacecraft, moves astronauts during spacewalks, relocates large station components and supports maintenance work.
Since entering service in 2001, Canadarm2 has become indispensable for the day-to-day functioning of the orbiting laboratory.
Although the ISS has been continuously inhabited for more than 25 years, Nasa has said that repairs like these are expected.
That is also the reason why Canadarm2 was designed with replaceable parts so that astronauts can service it in orbit rather than replace the entire system.
WHY IS US SPACEWALK 95 A BIG DEAL?
The upcoming operation will be Jessica Meir's fifth spacewalk and Chris Williams' second.
Williams will wear the spacesuit with red stripes, identifying him as spacewalk crew member 1, while Meir will wear an unmarked suit.
The mission will also mark the 280th spacewalk conducted in support of the assembly, maintenance and continued upgrades of the International Space Station.
Spacewalks, also known as extravehicular activities (EVAs), remain among the most demanding operations in human spaceflight.
Astronauts spend hours working in the vacuum of space while tethered to the station, carrying out repairs and upgrades that cannot be completed remotely.
As the ISS continues to age, such maintenance missions are becoming increasingly important to ensure the orbiting laboratory remains fully operational for scientific research and international cooperation until the end of its planned service life.
The spacewalk is scheduled to begin at 6:05 pm IST, while Nasa's live coverage will start at 4:30 pm IST on the space agency's platform NASA+, YouTube, Amazon Prime and Netflix.
