Canadian Space Agency – Page 11

Spacewalking Team Relaxes Ahead of Monday Excursion

The seven Expedition 71 crew members gather with the two Crew Flight Test members for a team portrait aboard the space station. In the front from left are, Suni Williams, Oleg Kononenko, and Butch Wilmore. Second row from left are, Alexander Grebenkin, Tracy C. Dyson, and Mike Barratt. In the back are, Nikolai Chub, Jeanette Epps, and Matthew Dominick.

Relaxation and a host of lab maintenance tasks filled the end of the day for the dual crews living and working aboard the International Space Station.

Four NASA astronauts, all Expedition 71 Flight Engineers, are taking Friday and Saturday off in space following several days of spacesuit checks and spacewalking procedure reviews. Tracy C. Dyson and Mike Barratt will be relaxing for two days before a busy day of spacewalk preparations on Sunday. The duo is scheduled to begin a spacewalk at 8 a.m. EDT on Monday to retrieve faulty radio hardware and collect samples of microorganisms.

The other two relaxing astronauts, Matthew Dominick and Jeanette Epps, will join the spacewalkers on Sunday for the preparations before practicing Canadarm2 robotic arm maneuvers they will use to support Dyson and Barratt on Monday. Dominick and Epps also will help the spacewalkers suit up in the Quest airlock as well as monitor Dyson and Barratt during their six-and-a-half-hour excursion.

NASA TV will begin its spacewalk broadcast at 6:30 a.m. on Monday. Live coverage will air on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website. Learn how to stream NASA TV through a variety of platforms including social media.

Boeing Crew Flight Test Commander Butch Wilmore and Pilot Suni Williams, both NASA astronauts, spent Friday testing systems inside the Starliner spacecraft. The pair entered Starliner on Friday and worked throughout the day inside the spacecraft’s cabin. The experienced astronauts powered up Starliner while docked to the Harmony module’s forward port, checked its operations and hardware, then packed cargo inside the crew ship for a return to Earth.

In the Roscosmos side of the orbital outpost, cosmonaut and station Commander Oleg Kononenko spent his day configuring video equipment, setting up Earth monitoring hardware, then cleaning smoke detectors in the Nauka science module. Flight Engineer Nikolai Chub replaced medical and electronics hardware then wrapped up his day in the Zarya module inventorying space behind its panels. Flight Engineer Alexander Grebenkin pointed a pair of cameras outside a station window and programmed them to automatically take pictures of the Earth.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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Astronauts Gear Up for Spacewalk Amidst Cardiac Research

Astronauts Jeanette Epps and Mike Barratt assist astronaut Tracy C. Dyson, all three from NASA, during a spacesuit fit check inside the space station's Quest airlock. — Astronauts Jeanette Epps and Mike Barratt assist astronaut Tracy C. Dyson, all three from NASA, during a spacesuit fit check inside the space station’s Quest airlock.

The two crews living and working aboard the International Space Station continued gearing up for next week’s science and maintenance spacewalk. The nine space lab inhabitants also focused on long-running heart research and continuous maintenance on orbital lab systems.

NASA Flight Engineers Tracy C. Dyson and Mike Barratt are getting ready for the first spacewalk of the Expedition 71 mission set to begin at 8 a.m. EDT on Monday, June 24. The suited up duo will exit the depressurized Quest airlock into the vacuum of space for six-and-a-half hours of radio hardware removal tasks and sample collections of microorganisms that may have exited through station vents.

The veteran astronauts joined Matthew Dominick and Jeanette Epps, both first time NASA flight engineers, studying and practicing the Canadarm2 robotic arm maneuvers necessary to support Monday’s spacewalk. Afterward, the astronaut quartet called down to mission controllers and discussed readiness for the communications hardware and research excursion. This will be Dyson’s fourth career spacewalk since 2010 when she was an Expedition 24 Flight Engineer. This will Barratt’s third spacewalk since 2009 when he was an Expedition 20 Flight Engineer.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, Commander and Pilot respectively for the Boeing Crew Flight Test, helped tidy up the orbital lab on Thursday and adjusted seats inside the Starliner spacecraft. Wilmore first swapped out thermal gear that protects electronics hardware then refreshed crew provisions inside the orbital outpost. Williams packed trash inside Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus space freighter, swapped out plumbing components, then exchanged space physics research hardware. The two experienced crewmates also entered Starliner and configured the seats aboard the spacecraft before its upcoming departure.

Station Commander Oleg Kononenko and Flight Engineer Nikolai Chub took turns on Thursday staying still for a period of time while wearing sensors recording their heart activity. The yearslong Roscosmos space cardiac study is helping researchers understand how the human heart adapts to long-term weightlessness. Flight Engineer Alexander Grebenkin assisted the duo with the heart research, then set up a camera for automated photography of the Earth’s surface, and finally focused on life support maintenance.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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Spacewalks, Biotech Research are Tuesday’s Focus on Station

Tracy C. Dyson assists Mike Barratt, both NASA astronauts, during a spacesuit fit check inside the International Space Station's Quest airlock. — Tracy C. Dyson assists Mike Barratt, both NASA astronauts, during a spacesuit fit check inside the International Space Station’s Quest airlock.

Spacewalk preparations and biotechnology research are keeping the Expedition 71 and NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test crews busy aboard the International Space Station on Tuesday.

The next spacewalk at the orbital outpost will be June 24 when NASA astronauts Tracy C. Dyson and Mike Barratt will remove faulty radio hardware and swab station surfaces for microorganisms as was initially planned. A second spacewalk to remove and replace a gyroscope assembly, relocate an antenna, and prepare for future Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer upgrades is planned for July 2. NASA will determine assignments for the July 2nd spacewalk once the June 24 activities are complete.

The duo was joined by fellow astronauts Matthew Dominick and Jeanette Epps on Tuesday afternoon and reviewed procedures on a computer that illustrated the planned spacewalking maneuvers. Afterward, Dominick and Epps practiced on a computer the Canadarm2 robotic arm operations they will use to support the two spacewalkers. At the end of the day, the foursome called down to mission controllers to discuss their spacewalk readiness.

The International Space Station’s main purpose is to support scientific research and advance technologies benefitting humans living on and off the Earth. The microgravity experiments reveal new phenomena that can only be observed in the weightless environment of the orbiting lab. Scientists and engineers then apply the unique results to promote the health care, commercial, and space industries.

Starliner crewmates Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams focused their Tuesday research activities on a treatment for respiratory conditions and DNA sequencing to identify microbes living on spacecraft. Wilmore worked in the Harmony module performing sample operations and videotaping liquid flows to improve the transport of liquid drugs in human airways. Afterward, Williams also worked in Harmony and sequenced microbial and fungal DNA samples collected from station water systems. Results may advance crew health, increase spacecraft safety, and upgrade health care systems on Earth.

Dyson worked in the Kibo laboratory module during the afternoon configuring space biology hardware. She removed research habitats and accessed the Cell Biology Experiment Facility, an incubator with an artificial gravity generator, setting it up for future experiments.

From the station’s Roscosmos segment, Commander Oleg Kononenko studied how free-floating objects move aboard the space lab then inventoried gear stowed inside the Poisk module. Flight Engineer Nikolai Chub transferred water delivered aboard the Progress 88 resupply ship into station water tanks. Flight Engineer Alexander spent his day working on life support gear, cleaning ventilation systems, and measuring the vibrations the Roscosmos modules experience as the station orbits the planet.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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Station, Starliner Crews Working Advanced Science Ahead of Spacewalks

The Starliner spacecraft on NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test is pictured docked to the Harmony module's forward port on the International Space Station. — The Starliner spacecraft on NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test is pictured docked to the Harmony module’s forward port on the International Space Station.

The seven Expedition 71 crew members and the two astronauts on NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test started the week with spacewalk preparations and an array of advanced microgravity research. The nine residents aboard the International Space Station also maintained electronic, life support, and orbital plumbing systems.

Two spacewalks are now scheduled for June 24 and July 2. The first spacewalk will see two spacewalkers remove faulty radio hardware and swab station surfaces for microorganisms. The tasks planned for the second spacewalk include removing and replacing a gyroscope assembly, relocating an antenna, and preparing the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer for future upgrades.

Throughout Monday, NASA Flight Engineers Matthew Dominick, Mike Barratt, and Jeanette Epps worked on a variety of spacesuit tasks, including cleaning cooling loops inside a spacesuit and swapping spacesuit components in the Quest airlock.

Epps started her day in the Kibo laboratory module removing camera hardware inside Kibo’s airlock for reconfiguration and stowage with assistance from Barratt. Epps then worked in the Destiny laboratory module swapping sample cartridges inside the Materials Science Laboratory, a research facility used to discover new applications for existing materials and new or improved materials. Barratt inspected and serviced components on the Tranquility module’s advanced resistive exercise device, workout gear that mimics the inertial forces on Earth when lifting free weights.

NASA Flight Engineer Tracy C. Dyson set up biomedical gear then wore a sensor-packed vest and headband that recorded her heart and lung data while she pedaled on an exercise cycle. Afterward, she worked on space botany hardware removing water bags ahead of a plant experiment.

Starliner Pilot Suni Williams started her day transferring wastewater between station modules then replaced a video camera in the Columbus laboratory module. Afterward, she moved to the Kibo lab and watered the Advanced Plant Habitat to prepare for upcoming science operations.

Starliner Commander Butch Wilmore worked in the Harmony module’s maintenance work area setting up hardware and researching liquid flows to improve the health care and food industries. The Gaucho Lung study is exploring ways to optimize drug delivery for respiratory conditions, treat infants with respiratory distress syndrome, and prevent contamination of tubes with intermittent flows of liquids.

NASA and Boeing will discuss Starliner’s mission and departure from the orbital outpost as part of the agency’s Crew Flight Test in a media teleconference at 12 p.m. EDT Tuesday, June 18. Audio of the teleconference will stream live on NASA’s website at https://nasa.gov/nasatv.

Roscosmos Flight Engineer Nikolai Chub spent his day testing the operations of a 3D printer while fellow cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin studied the vibrations the space station experiences while orbiting Earth. Cosmonaut and station Commander Oleg Kononenko worked throughout Monday replacing smoke detectors in the space station’s Russian segment.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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Spacewalks Rescheduled Before Station Boosts Orbit

The space station is pictured from the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour during its departure and flyaround on Nov. 8, 2021.

The Expedition 71 crew members are relaxing today following the delay of Thursday’s spacewalk. Mission planners rescheduled the spacewalk for June 24 when two spacewalkers will remove faulty radio hardware and swab station surfaces for microorganisms. A second spacewalk to remove and replace a gyroscope assembly, relocate an antenna, and prepare for future Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer upgrades is planned for July 2. Meanwhile, the two Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts from NASA continued vehicle testing.

NASA and Boeing will discuss Starliner’s mission and departure from the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test in a pre-departure media teleconference at 12 p.m. EDT Tuesday, June 18. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have previously visited the orbital outpost, called down to Boeing mission controllers on Friday and discussed their upcoming departure. Afterward, the duo entered Starliner and reviewed the spacecraft’s flight operations and procedures.

Roscosmos’ Progress 87 resupply ship, docked to the Zvezda service module, will fire its engines late Friday night boosting the space station’s orbit. The reboost maneuvers occur regularly restoring the orbiting lab’s altitude as it degrades over time due to Earth’s gravity and atmospheric drag.

The three cosmonauts working aboard the space station stayed busy on Friday with their standard complement of space research and life support maintenance duties. Commander Oleg Kononenko and Flight Engineer Nikolai Chub wrapped their work shift with eye scans using a medical imaging device looking at the retina, optic nerve, and cornea. Flight Engineer Alexander worked throughout the day on computer maintenance, vent cleaning, and orbital plumbing.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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NASA Provides Updated U.S. Spacewalk Dates

NASA astronaut pictured completing an installation outside of the International Space Station.

The U.S. spacewalk 90 planned Thursday at the International Space Station did not proceed as scheduled due to a spacesuit discomfort issue.

NASA astronauts Tracy C. Dyson and Matthew Dominick completed taking off their spacesuits about an hour before the crew was anticipated to exit the Quest airlock.

With consideration to NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test and other spaceflight operations, the next spacewalk will be Monday, June 24, followed by another on Tuesday, July 2, as was previously planned. The June 24 spacewalk will focus on radio frequency group hardware removal, while the content of the July 2 spacewalk is under evaluation and will be shared as available. The crew members on the station are healthy, and spacesuits are functioning as expected.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

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Spacewalk Postponed Due to Spacesuit Discomfort Issue

The space station is pictured from the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour during its departure and flyaround on Nov. 8, 2021.

The spacewalk today, June 13, at the International Space Station did not proceed as scheduled due to a spacesuit discomfort issue.

NASA astronauts Tracy C. Dyson and Matt Dominick completed taking off their spacesuits about an hour before the crew was anticipated to exit the Quest airlock. NASA will continue to provide additional information on the space station blog.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

Get weekly updates from NASA Johnson Space Center at: https://roundupreads.jsc.nasa.gov/

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Spacewalk is Postponed

The spacewalk today, June 13, with NASA astronauts Tracy C. Dyson and Matt Dominick at the International Space Station will not be proceeding as scheduled. The crew has just begun taking off their suits, at approximately 6:25 am CDT, about an hour before the crew was anticipated to exit the Quest airlock. We are standing by for more information and will share as we know it.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

Get weekly updates from NASA Johnson Space Center at: https://roundupreads.jsc.nasa.gov/

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Astronauts Exiting Station Soon for Maintenance and Science Spacewalk

NASA’s coverage is underway on NASA+, NASA Television, YouTube, the NASA app, and the agency’s website as two astronauts will conduct a spacewalk outside of the International Space Station. The spacewalk is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. EDT and last about six and a half hours.

NASA astronauts Tracy C. Dyson and Matt Dominick will exit the station’s Quest airlock to complete the removal of a faulty electronics box, called a radio frequency group, from a communications antenna on the starboard truss of the space station. The pair also will collect samples for analysis to understand the ability of microorganisms to survive and reproduce on the exterior of the orbiting laboratory.

Dyson will serve as spacewalk crew member 1 and will wear a suit with red stripes. Dominick will serve as spacewalk crew member 2 and will wear an unmarked suit. U.S. spacewalk 90 will be the fourth for Dyson and the first for Dominick. It is the 271st spacewalk in support of space station assembly, maintenance, and upgrades.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

Get weekly updates from NASA Johnson Space Center at: https://roundupreads.jsc.nasa.gov/

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Astronauts Work Final Spacewalk Preps and Genetic Sequencing

Astronaut Tracy C. Dyson works inside the Quest airlock and checks procedures on a computer tablet to prepare a spacesuit for a fit verification.

The Expedition 71 crew is in final preparations for a science and maintenance spacewalk set to begin Thursday morning. The two astronauts on NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test spent their day aboard the International Space Station performing genetic sequencing and orbital plumbing.

NASA astronauts Tracy C. Dyson and Matthew Dominick are in their final day of preparations for a spacewalk planned to start at 8 a.m. EDT on Thursday. Once the astronauts set their spacesuits to battery power, the spacewalkers will exit the Quest airlock into the vacuum of space for six-and-a-half hours of maintenance and science work. The duo will first remove the radio frequency group hardware from a pallet on the side of the Destiny laboratory module with assistance from the Canadarm2 robotic arm. Next, the spacewalkers will swab surfaces on the Destiny and Quest modules to determine if microorganisms released through station vents can survive the external microgravity environment.

Dyson and Dominick readied Quest, checked their spacesuits, and organized spacewalking tools on Wednesday morning. NASA Flight Engineers Mike Barratt and Jeanette Epps practiced on a computer the Canadarm2 maneuvers they will use during Thursday’s spacewalk. All four astronauts at the end of the day called down to mission controllers for a final spacewalk preparedness conference.

NASA TV will begin its spacewalk broadcast at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday. Live coverage will air on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the agency’s website. Learn how to stream NASA TV through a variety of platforms including social media.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams spent Wednesday focusing on lab maintenance and researching advanced biotechnology. Wilmore started his day checking cargo stowed in the Harmony module before replacing components in the station’s bathroom, known as the waste and hygiene compartment located in the Tranquility module. Williams extracted DNA from microbes collected from station water samples and sequenced their genes for identification. Results may inform ways to keep crews healthy and space habitats cleaner.

The station’s three cosmonauts, Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub, and Alexander Grebenkin, had an off-duty day on Wednesday spending time relaxing, exercising, and on light housekeeping tasks.

Learn more about station activities by following the space station blog, @space_station and @ISS_Research on X, as well as the ISS Facebook and ISS Instagram accounts.

Get weekly video highlights at: https://roundupreads.jsc.nasa.gov/videoupdate/