posted 01-19-2023 10:33 PM               

ISS Expedition 68: U.S. Spacewalk 84

Two astronauts on the International Space Station will conduct a spacewalk on Friday (Jan. 20) to install hardware for future power system upgrades.

Expedition 68 crewmates Nicole Mann of NASA and Koichi Wakata of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) are scheduled to exit the Quest airlock at about 8:15 a.m. EST (1315 GMT) to complete the installation of two mounting platforms as part of planned solar array augmentation on the starboard side of the International Space Station's truss.

The duo will complete the installation of a mounting platform on the 1B power channel that was started during a previous spacewalk and begin installing a mounting platform on the 1A power channel.

The installation is part of a series of spacewalks to augment the International Space Station's power channels with new International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays (iROSAs). Four iROSAs have been installed so far, and two more will be mounted to the platforms installed during this spacewalk in the future.

Wakata will serve as extravehicular crew member 1 (EV 1) and will wear a suit with red stripes. Mann will serve as EV 2 and will wear an unmarked suit. The spacewalk will be the first in both Wakata's and Mann's careers.

posted 01-19-2023 10:35 PM               

NASA will provide live coverage beginning Friday (Jan. 20) at 7 a.m. EST (1200 GMT). The spacewalk is scheduled to last about six and a half hours.

posted 01-20-2023 02:39 PM               

Astronauts run into snags installing array mount

Expedition 68 crewmates Nicole Mann and Koichi Wakata conducted the 7 hour and 21 minute extravehicular activity (EVA) on Friday (Jan. 20). The two astronauts took their spacesuits to battery power and exited the station's U.S. Quest airlock to begin the spacewalk at 8:14 a.m. EST (1314 GMT).

After configuring their tethers and gathering their tools, the two spacewalkers began their work by heading off to two different worksites. Wakata first focused on tightening the bolts on a iROSA mounting platform that was installed for the 1A power channel during an earlier EVA as Mann delivered the tools and equipment for the assembly of a new mount to support the 1B power channel.

Meeting up, the two astronauts then began erecting the new triangle-shaped platform. To better position herself to bolt the mount pieces together, Mann used an articulating portable foot restraint, or APFR — though not without some trouble. The extra time needed to work with the AFPR left the two astronauts about 45 minutes behind in their timeline.

While working to assemble the new mount, Wakata and Mann were able to piece together three of the four components successfully. The upper strut, iROSA mounting bracket and lower strut came together as expected, but the middle (or mid) strut would not seat correctly. After spending some time trying to troubleshoot the problem, Mission Control called the attempt off.

The installation of the mid-strut will be left for another spacewalk.

Wakata and Mann reentered the Quest airlock, closed the hatch and began repressurization at 3:35 p.m. EST (2035 GMT), ending the EVA.

The spacewalk was the first for both Mann and Wakata. It was the fifth EVA conducted during Expedition 68 and 258th in support of ISS assembly and maintenance.