Astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara, stationed at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, have been photographed in their spacesuits. Image courtesy of NASA.
As the crew of Expedition 70 completes their final preparations for a maintenance-focused spacewalk set for Wednesday, ongoing human research and a manufacturing study were conducted on the International Space Station on Tuesday, October 31.
Mission control has granted authorization for NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara to embark on an approximately seven-hour-long spacewalk, set to commence at 8:05 a.m. EDT on Wednesday. The astronauts are tasked with removing radio communication equipment and replacing hardware essential for the space station’s solar arrays to follow the Sun. Coverage of the spacewalk will begin on NASA TV at 6:30 a.m., accessible through the agency’s application and website.
A photo depicts NASA astronaut and Expedition 70 Flight Engineer Loral O’Hara as she tries on her spacesuit and tests its components within the International Space Station’s Quest airlock, in preparation for the impending spacewalk. Image courtesy of NASA.
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Preparations for Crew and Spacewalk
Joining Moghbeli and O’Hara in today’s comprehensive spacewalk preparations were Commander Andreas Mogensen from the European Space Agency (ESA) and Satoshi Furukawa from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The day began with Moghbeli and O’Hara undergoing routine medical examinations, assisted by Mogensen, who helped conduct checks for temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration. Furukawa joined the trio for a review of spacewalk protocols and subsequently contacted ground-based specialists for a final readiness assessment.
Both Moghbeli and O’Hara prepared their spacesuits and equipment within the Quest airlock, the starting point for Wednesday’s spacewalk. This marks the inaugural spacewalk for both astronauts and is the 12th such event for the space station this year.
Expedition 70 Flight Engineer Nikolai Chub of Roscosmos was captured in a photograph during a spacewalk to examine a backup radiator, deploy a nanosatellite, and establish communications hardware on the International Space Station’s Nauka scientific module. Image courtesy of NASA.
Station Activities Involving Cosmonauts
The three cosmonauts on the space station continued to adhere to their daily schedule of scientific research and maintenance within the Roscosmos segment. They also concluded the cleanup activities subsequent to last week’s spacewalk.
Flight Engineer Oleg Kononenko initiated a 24-hour session in which he monitored his cardiac and blood pressure levels by attaching sensors to himself. Following this, he exchanged samples within a 3D printer as part of an investigation into space manufacturing methodologies. Flight Engineer Nikolai Chub completed the stowing of tools used in last week’s spacewalk after opening the hatch between the Poisk module and the Progress 84 cargo spacecraft. Flight Engineer Konstantin Borisov handed over radiation detectors to be worn on the spacesuits for Wednesday’s spacewalk and dedicated the rest of his day to tasks related to life support and maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Spacewalk Authorization
What is the main focus of the upcoming spacewalk by NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara?
The main focus of the upcoming spacewalk is maintenance. The astronauts are tasked with removing radio communication equipment and replacing hardware essential for the space station’s solar arrays to follow the Sun.
Who has authorized the spacewalk and when is it scheduled?
Mission control has authorized the spacewalk, which is scheduled to commence at 8:05 a.m. EDT on Wednesday. The spacewalk is expected to last approximately seven hours.
Who else is involved in the preparations for the spacewalk?
Apart from NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara, Commander Andreas Mogensen from the European Space Agency (ESA) and Satoshi Furukawa from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are also involved in the preparations.
How are the astronauts preparing for the spacewalk?
The astronauts are undergoing routine medical examinations including checks for temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and respiration. They are also preparing their spacesuits and equipment within the Quest airlock, which will be the starting point for the spacewalk.
What activities are the cosmonauts on the International Space Station focusing on?
The cosmonauts on the space station are focusing on their daily schedule of scientific research and maintenance within the Roscosmos segment. They are also concluding cleanup activities subsequent to a previous spacewalk.
How can one watch the spacewalk?
Coverage of the spacewalk will begin on NASA TV at 6:30 a.m., accessible through NASA’s official application and website.
Is this the first spacewalk for the involved NASA astronauts?
Yes, this marks the inaugural spacewalk for both NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara.
How many spacewalks have been conducted at the space station this year?
This will be the 12th spacewalk conducted at the International Space Station this year.
What is Expedition 70?
Expedition 70 is the name of the current crew mission aboard the International Space Station, which involves various astronauts and cosmonauts from different space agencies.
More about Spacewalk Authorization
- NASA Official Spacewalk Information
- Expedition 70 Mission Details
- NASA TV Live Stream
- European Space Agency (ESA) Official Site
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Official Site
- Roscosmos Official Site
- International Space Station Research and Technology
6 comments
Wow, first spacewalk for both of them? Hope everything goes smooth. The preparation must be nerve-wracking.
That’s a long day for Moghbeli and O’Hara. Seven hours in space? Must be both thrilling and exhausting.
Wow, can’t believe this is the 12th spacewalk this year! These astronauts and cosmonauts are just amazing. Keep it up guys!
Anyone else curious about the Roscosmos segment? Seems like they’ve got some interesting experiments going on too.
so excited to watch the live coverage. I’ve always been fascinated by anything that involves space and NASA. this is gonna be great.
It’s impressive how they manage to do medical checks in space. Blood pressure, pulse, and all. Science is amazing, isn’t it?