Two NASA astronauts and a European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut are set to take their first spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) in order to conduct research and install a high-definition camera for Earth views.
On October 12, astronauts Loral O’Hara (NASA) and Andreas Mogensen (ESA) will spacewalk to collect microorganism samples from the exterior of the ISS orbital complex. The pair are also scheduled to replace an HD camera on the port truss of the ISS, NASA said.
In order to maintain breathable air for astronauts inside the space station, its life support system vents carbon dioxide into space, bacterial residue possible near the vents, ESA said.
“Understanding if bacteria can survive on surfaces in outer space will help reduce human contamination on future missions to the moon and Mars,” ESA said.
The six-hour spacewalk will begin at 10 a.m. EDT and may be watched on NASA TV or the NASA app.
“O’Hara will serve as extravehicular activity (EVA) crew member [one] and will wear a suit with red stripes,” NASA said. “Mogensen will serve as extravehicular crew member [two] and will wear an unmarked suit. U.S. spacewalk 89 will be the first spacewalk for both crewmembers.”
Preparation
Mogensen, who is commander of the space station, and O’Hara will prepare by breathing pure oxygen and doing some light exercises, according to ESA. The agency said the exercises will help rid nitrogen from their blood, since too much of the element can create a serious health issue when transitioning from a high-pressure environment to a low one.
“Outside the space station, Andreas will install a new high-definition camera while strapped to the station’s robotic arm, Canadarm2,” ESA said. “For the first time the robotic arm will be operated from ground control instead of by an astronaut on the space station. NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli will be inside the International Space Station monitoring operations and ready to take over if needed.”
On October 20, O’Hara will again spacewalk, joined by Moghbeli. The two will remove a faulty Radio Frequency Group electronics box from a communications antenna on the starboard truss of the station. They are also set to replace one of 12 trundle bearing assemblies on the port truss solar alpha rotary joint.
“The bearings enable the station’s solar arrays to rotate properly to track the sun as the station orbits the Earth,” NASA said.
That spacewalk will begin at 7:30 a.m. EDT and is expected to last nearly seven hours, according to NASA.
