Posts: 45772 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-05-2021 08:22 AM
ISS Expedition 64: U.S. Spacewalk 72
NASA astronaut Kate Rubins and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Soichi Noguchi exited the International Space Station's Quest airlock on Friday (March 5) to complete the installation of solar array modification kits, which were started during a Feb. 28 spacewalk in preparation for solar array upgrades.
The pair set their spacesuits to battery power at 6:37 a.m. EST (1137 GMT), signifying the start of the extravehicular activity (EVA), which is expected to last about six and a half hours.
Rubins and fellow NASA astronaut Victor Glover began the work to install the modification kits on the farthest set of solar rays on the station's Port 6 (P6) truss structure. Noguchi and Rubins are completing the installation and configuration of the kits in preparation for new solar arrays.
The new solar arrays, which will be delivered to the space station on upcoming SpaceX Dragon cargo missions, are a larger version of the Roll-Out Solar Array (ROSA) technology and will ultimately increasing the station's total available power from 160 kilowatts to up to 215 kilowatts.
Following solar array modification kit configuration, Rubins will conduct cable routing for the Bartolomeo platform Parking Position Interface (PAPOS) on the Columbus module, Noguchi will replace a Wireless Video System External Transceivers Assembly (WETA), and the pair will perform other get-ahead work as time permits.
This is the 236th spacewalk in support of space station assembly. Rubins is designated extravehicular crew member 1 (EV 1) and is wearing a spacesuit bearing red stripes. Noguchi is EV 2, wearing a suit with no stripes.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 45772 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-05-2021 01:07 PM
Astronauts Conclude Solar Array Mods Spacewalk
Kate Rubins and Soichi Noguchi concluded their spacewalk on Friday (March 5) at 1:33 p.m. EST (1833 GMT), after 6 hours and 56 minutes. The two astronauts successfully completed the installation of modification kits required for upcoming solar array upgrades.
The duo worked near the farthest set of existing solar arrays on the station's left (port) side, known as P6, to install a modification kit on solar array 4B and reconfigure the modification kit on 2B, completing tasks that were started during a Feb. 28 spacewalk.
Toward the end of the spacewalk, Rubins reported a concern with one of her gloves.
There's a hole in my right index finger through the RTV. It's unchanged in appearance. And we have a middle finger peeling, my right middle finger, and some of the gaps in the RTV on my left middle finger.
This is kind of a pinprick hole versus RTV peeling. So I'm mildly concerned about going real far from Soichi.
Due to time constraints, the secondary tasks of troubleshooting the Columbus Parking Position (PAPOS) Interface and removing and replacing a Wireless Video System External Transceivers Assembly (WETA) were deferred to a later spacewalk. The astronauts did, however, complete an additional task of relocating an Articulating Portable Foot Restraint (APFR).
This was the fourth career spacewalk for both Rubins and Noguchi. Rubins has now spent a total of 26 hours and 46 minutes spacewalking. Noguchi now has spent a total of 27 hours and 1 minute spacewalking.
Noguchi last performed a spacewalk on Aug. 3, 2005 during the STS-114 mission. At 15 years, 7 months and 2 days, he has set the record for the most time between extravehicular activities (EVAs).
Space station crew members have conducted 236 spacewalks in support of assembly and maintenance of the orbiting laboratory. Spacewalkers have now spent a total of 61 days, 21 hours and 7 minutes working outside the station.