Two NASA astronauts will conduct a pair of spacewalks to International Space Station on Wednesday, January 27, and Monday, February 1. The missions would construct a European science platform and full long-term battery replacement operation.
The pair, who traveled on board the SpaceX Crew Dragon Resistance to the space station, will perform the 233rd and 234th spacewalk to enable the ISS's assembly, repairs, and improvements.
IN SPACE - JULY 12: In this handout image provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), NASA astronaut Mike Fossum, Expedition 28 flight engineer, waits at an International Space Station's pressurized mating adapter (PMA-2) docked to the space shuttle Atlantis, as the station's robotic system moves the failed pump module (out of frame) over to the spacewalking astronaut and the shuttle's cargo bay during a planned six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk July 12, 2011, in space. This is the 160th spacewalk devoted to station assembly and maintenance since construction began in 1998. Space shuttle Atlantis has embarked on a 12-day mission to the International Space Station to deliver the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module packed with supplies and spare parts. This was the final mission of the space shuttle program, which began on April 12, 1981, with Colombia's launch.
According to NASA, January's activities would concentrate on completing wires and transmitter mounting for the science payload network outside the ESA module. During the spacewalk, the floating laboratory would also get a Ka-band console and get a grappling fixture bracket removed.
Installing the last lithium-ion battery adapter panel, eliminating another grapple fixture bracket, and replacing an external monitor would be part of Glover and Hopkin's second company.
All spacewalks will be televised live on the NASA website, and coverage will begin at 5:30 a.m. ET. The spacewalks are slated to launch at 7 a.m. ET and six and a half hours are predicted to last.
Overall, 232 spacewalks have been performed at the ISS by NASA since December 1998. U.S. spacesuits have 177, and Russian spacesuits have 55.
Glover would have his first-ever spacewalk encounter, while Hopkins would have his third spacewalk.
What Will The Astronauts Do In The Space Station?
The astronauts would concentrate on finishing the installation on January 27 of Bartolomeo, the latest cargo hosting station beyond the European Space Agency's Columbus module. To tie up power and data ties, they will full antennas and cable rigging.
According to the European Space Agency, the Bartolomeo site is the first case of a European commercial collaboration providing a location for science and technology presentations beyond the space station.
The Columbus module will also be updated with a gateway that provides European ground stations with an independent high-bandwidth connectivity link.
On February 1, astronauts will mount the last lithium-ion battery adapter pad. This installation wraps up the work that started in January 2017 to replace aging batteries outside the station.
Rubins would handle the mechanical arm from within the space station during all spacewalks to support the astronauts when operating outside.
They will concentrate on other changes, such as replacing a traditional external camera with a new high-definition camera in the Destiny laboratory. Astronauts are also expecting to replace the camera and light assembly parts needed for Kibo module's the Japanese robotic arm's camera system.
Glover and Rubins will team up to plan the station's power grid on the third spacewalk and add new solar panels, which will improve the station's power supply.
The astronauts go through intermittent periods of day and night every 45 minutes during these lengthy spacewalks, working against both the sun's heavy, bright light and the freezing darkness of space. This is when, at 17,500 miles per hour, the space station orbiting Earth.
Vincent Lacourt, NASA spacewalk flight director for the February 1 spacewalk, pointed out that there is a possibility for a freeze in the ISS temperature. Hence, heaters are placed in the astronauts' gloves to keep their hands safe.
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