Dragon Work, Space Research and Spacewalk Preps Today

Expedition 63 Commander Chris Cassidy prepares to stow biological samples for preservation inside a science freezer.
Expedition 63 Commander Chris Cassidy prepares to stow biological samples for preservation inside a science freezer.

Two NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station are getting ready for a pair of spacewalks set to begin at the end of June. Meanwhile, the Expedition 63 crew is still performing advanced space research to benefit Earth and space industries.

Commander Chris Cassidy and Flight Engineer Bob Behnken are studying the tasks they will perform during two spacewalks to upgrade station power systems. NASA TV will broadcast both spacewalks live on June 26 and July 1 when the astronauts will swap old nickel-hydrogen batteries with new lithium-ion batteries on the Starboard-6 truss structure.

Flight Engineers Doug Hurley of NASA and Ivan Vagner of Roscosmos teamed up Wednesday morning readying the jetpacks the spacewalkers would use in the unlikely event they became detached from the station. They later joined Cassidy and Behnken during the afternoon for a spacewalk review with engineers on the ground.

Cassidy was back on biology work this morning collecting and stowing his blood and urine samples to learn how microgravity affects the human body. Behnken and Hurley checked their Dragon crew suits and charged their crew ship’s computer tablets.

Vagner also had time for a trio of Russian experiments as he photographed the Earth, researched future spacecraft piloting techniques and studied plasma crystals. Fellow cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin was also studying plasma crystals today while researching the dynamic forces the station experiences in orbit.

The Red-Eye microsatellite was deployed into Earth orbit this afternoon using the NanoRacks Kaber Microsat deployer outside Japan’s Kibo laboratory module. The 110-kilogram Red-Eye will test satellite communications, flight computers and thermal management technologies.

20 thoughts on “Dragon Work, Space Research and Spacewalk Preps Today”

  1. Hi Crew,

    I’ve just seen the station Passing over me in Piracicaba- São Paulo – Brazil at 5:25 pm EDT. It was my first time spotting the station. It’s amazing.

  2. I do miss my “Spot the Station” alerts. Now I have to go hunting for the information.

  3. I am truly amazed at what we’re achieving on the ISS. It’s absolutely fascinating and I now have a new appreciation & hobby.
    Thank you for all you do & sharing everything with us. Stay safe all.

  4. Excited to watch. I’m guessing they are actually on JUNE 26 and July 1?
    Thanks for all the news!

  5. This article says the spacewalks are scheduled for July 26 and July 1, but I thought that they are on June 26 and July 1.

  6. It’s fascinating to follow the tasks the ISS crew are performing to learn more about life off Earth. Thanks for sharing!

  7. I have never watched live coverage of space related events before. This event I have NASA television channel and have not missed any coverage since Chris was in Russia. Thank you for all the media updates!Suzanne

  8. “NASA TV will broadcast both spacewalks live on July 26 and July 1…” Is the first spacewalk scheduled for July 26th or June 26th? In a previous post, it said June 26th.

  9. Really impressed with their team. All the best and stay safe. Especially our dragon crew during their return flight to home. Greetings from Malaysia.

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