NASA's ready to dive back into spacewalking business after a lengthy hiatus due to a faulty spacesuit. The space agency has announced plans for back-to-back spacewalks at the International Space Station (ISS).
NASA's ready to dive back into spacewalking business after a lengthy hiatus due to a faulty spacesuit. The space agency has announced plans for back-to-back spacewalks at the International Space Station (ISS).
Spacewalks are back on the agenda at the International Space Station (ISS), with NASA astronauts set to venture outside for the first time in nearly seven months. Two missions are planned this month, marking a significant milestone following a series of water leak incidents that halted extravehicular activities.
NASA made the announcement this week, preparing four astronauts for two separate spacewalks on January 16 and 23. American astronauts Suni Williams and Nick Hague will kick off the activities on the 16th, while Don Pettit and Butch Wilmore will follow suit on the 23rd. The proposed missions aim to service equipment and science experiments attached to the ISS exterior.
Back in June 2024, a water leak in astronaut Tracy Dyson's spacesuit forced NASA to halt all extravehicular activities, causing a lengthy pause. However, NASA managed to resolve the issue by replacing a seal and umbilical cord, re-pressurizing the leaky suit, and putting an end to the frantic suspense.
The primary objectives for the upcoming spacewalks include replacing a rate gyro assembly and servicing the NICER X-ray telescope. Suni Williams and Nick Hague will handle these tasks on January 16, simultaneously preparing the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer for future upgrades. On the 23rd, Don Pettit and Butch Wilmore will remove a radio frequency group antenna assembly, collect samples for microorganism analysis, and prepare a spare elbow joint for the Canadarm2 robotic arm.
As the aged spacesuits (designed in the 1970s for the space shuttle program) reach their twilight years, NASA is looking to update its extravehicular mobility units (EMUs). The space agency has turned to its commercial partners, Axiom Space and Collins Aerospace, to develop next-generation suits worth a combined $3.5 billion. These advanced suits will boast enhanced mobility and innovative life support systems, contributing to NASA's mission to explore the Moon and beyond.
The spacewalks are scheduled as follows:
- U.S. Spacewalk 91: January 16, 2025
- U.S. Spacewalk 92: January 23, 2025 (streaming live on NASA+)
NASA's commercial partners will play a crucial role in developing the next-generation spacesuits needed for the agency's expanded mission portfolio. While the specific timeline for the launch of these new suits remains undisclosed, their introduction is part of NASA's ongoing efforts to strengthen its space exploration capabilities.
The upcoming spacewalks are a testament to the future of space exploration, utilizing advanced technology in science experiments and equipment maintenance. NASA's collaboration with Axiom Space and Collins Aerospace for next-generation spacesuits, equipped with enhanced mobility and innovative life support systems, will revolutionize extravehicular activities, enabling us to delve deeper into space, potentially reaching the Moon and beyond.