posted 08-23-2021 01:09 PM               

Expedition 65: U.S. Spacewalk 77 postponed

The U.S. spacewalk outside the International Space Station originally planned for Tuesday (Aug. 24) with NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide has been postponed due to a minor medical issue involving Vande Hei.

This issue is not a medical emergency, according to NASA.

The spacewalk is not time-sensitive and crew members are continuing to move forward with other station work and activities. Teams are assessing the next available opportunity to conduct the spacewalk following the SpaceX CRS-23 cargo resupply launch planned for Aug. 28 and upcoming Russian spacewalks.

Vandei Hei and Hoshide had been scheduled to install a support bracket, called a modification kit, on the inward port side of the space station's backbone truss structure in a position known as P4, which is closest to the station's pressurized living space. The kit will prepare the site for the future installation and deployment of the third of six new International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays (iROSA) to upgrade one of the station's eight power channels known as 4A, which provides partial power to the U.S. Laboratory Destiny, the Harmony module and European Columbus module.

The two spacewalkers were also expected to replace a device that measures the electrical charging potential of the arrays and associated surfaces in its vicinity, called a floating point measurement unit, on a separate truss.

posted 08-24-2021 02:21 PM               

Thanks for everyone's concern. I have a pinched nerve in my neck that caused us to reschedule today's spacewalk. The support from family, friends, and NASA leadership has been fantastic. I'm looking forward to installing this IROSA Mod kit. Today just wasn't the right day.

posted 09-11-2021 10:21 PM               

International astronauts to prepare space station for third new solar array

Two Expedition 65 astronauts will conduct a spacewalk on Sunday (Sept. 12) to continue modifications to the International Space Station's power system.

Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency (ESA) will become the first international astronauts to perform a spacewalk without an American or Russian as one of the pair. Their planned six-and-a-half hour spacewalk is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. EDT (1230 GMT) when they set their U.S. spacesuits to battery power.

After exiting the station's U.S. Quest airlock, Hoshide and Pesquet will install a support bracket, called a modification kit, on the inward port (or left-hand) side of the station's backbone truss structure in a position known as P4, which is closest to the station's pressurized living space.

The kit will prepare the site for the future installation and deployment of the third of six new International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays (iROSAs). The array will upgrade one of the station's eight power channels. Known as 4A, the channel provides partial power to the U.S. Destiny laboratory, the Harmony module and European Columbus module.

Hoshide and Pesquet will install the modification kit on the mast canister at the base of the original P4 solar arrays.

The two spacewalkers also will replace a device that measures the electrical charging potential of the arrays and associated surfaces in its vicinity, called a floating point measurement unit, on a separate truss section.

Hoshide will serve as extravehicular crew member one (EV1), with red stripes on his spacesuit. Pesquet will be EV2 with an unmarked suit. This will be the fourth spacewalk for Hoshide, the sixth spacewalk for Pesquet and the 244th spacewalk in support of assembly and maintenance of the International Space Station.

Sunday's spacewalk follows three others to install the first pair of new iROSAs. The station's original solar arrays are functioning well but have begun to show signs of degradation, which was expected, as they were designed for a 15-year service life.

The same roll-out solar array design will be used to power elements of NASA's Gateway, a new lunar-orbiting outpost in development by NASA's commercial and international partners.

posted 09-11-2021 10:23 PM               

On Sunday, Sept. 12 at 8:30 a.m. EDT (1230 GMT), watch Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Thomas Pesquet venture outside the International Space Station to perform upgrades to the orbiting lab.

NASA TV coverage starts at 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT).

posted 09-12-2021 02:22 PM               

Astronauts prep station for new solar array on first all-international spacewalk

Two astronauts installed the mount for a new solar array outside of the International Space Station during the first spacewalk to not include an American or Russian crew member as one of the pair.

Akihiko Hoshide of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and French astronaut Thomas Pesquet with the European Space Agency (ESA), both clad in U.S. spacesuits bearing their respective countries' flags on their left shoulders, spent six hours and 54 minutes working in the vacuum of space on Sunday (Sept. 12).