On December 11, 2018, Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko, identifiable by his red-striped suit, and Sergey Prokopyev, in a blue-striped suit, participated in a seven-hour and 45-minute extravehicular activity while floating more than 250 miles above the Earth. Photo credit: NASA
On Tuesday, October 24, the seven astronauts currently residing on the International Space Station were preoccupied with preparing for a series of forthcoming spacewalks. Alongside these preparations, which included procedural reviews and tool setup, the members of Expedition 70 also carried out general maintenance tasks and conducted health assessments.
Flight Engineers Nikolai Chub and Oleg Kononenko from Roscosmos are scheduled to embark on a seven-hour extravehicular mission from the station’s Poisk module tomorrow at 1:55 p.m. EDT. During the morning, they had lighter duties before commencing preparations for their Orlan spacesuits. Their tasks outside the space station will include the installation of communication equipment, the release of a nanosatellite, and an inspection of an auxiliary radiator that has shown signs of a coolant leak.
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Measures to Counteract Coolant Contamination Risk
Following a comprehensive assessment of the contamination risks caused by a coolant leak in the Nauka multipurpose laboratory module’s backup radiator, both NASA and Roscosmos have agreed on implementing post-extravehicular activity procedures. These measures aim to minimize the chance of coolant particles infiltrating the International Space Station. Extensive tests and imagery reviews have concluded that the risk and levels of contamination within the station are anticipated to be minimal. Nevertheless, these precautions have been agreed upon to further minimize potential risks to the station’s internal systems.
As they conclude their spacewalk on Wednesday, October 25, Chub and Kononenko will conduct inspections on their Roscosmos Orlan spacesuits and the tools utilized during their mission. Any detected coolant will be removed as necessary. Post-repressurization efforts will include additional wiping of suits and tools, accompanied by supplementary air filtration measures within the station to eliminate any remaining trace contaminants.
Aboard the International Space Station’s Destiny lab module, Expedition 70 Commander Andreas Mogensen of ESA (European Space Agency), along with Flight Engineers Loral O’Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli, both of NASA, and Satoshi Furukawa of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), displayed the active dosimeters used for monitoring radiation exposure in microgravity settings. Photo credit: NASA
Next Steps for Upcoming Spacewalk
In preparation for an additional spacewalk scheduled for Monday, October 30 at 8:05 a.m., NASA’s Flight Engineer Loral O’Hara collaborated with Commander Andreas Mogensen of ESA in the morning to complete the installation of the newly updated Teal CEVIS system. This system serves as an enhancement to the station’s existing exercise bicycle. Subsequently, the two engineers divided their tasks: O’Hara focused on preparations for the next week’s spacewalk with NASA’s Flight Engineer Jasmin Moghbeli.
The pair, both of whom will be embarking on their first extravehicular activities, will be tasked with removing the Radio Frequency Group and replacing solar array components. They spent a portion of their day scrutinizing procedures and organizing the tools required for the six-and-a-half-hour mission. Later in the evening, Moghbeli conducted tomography scans on O’Hara’s eyes as part of the ongoing CIPHER study, which is an integrated research program aimed at understanding how the human body adjusts to spaceflight conditions.
Routine Operations and Review of Nauka Module
Following breakfast, JAXA’s Flight Engineer Satoshi Furukawa concentrated on preparing cargo for SpaceX’s 29th resupply mission, which is set to launch no earlier than November 5. Furukawa was later joined by Mogensen to go over the robotic procedures they will employ next week when O’Hara and Moghbeli are outside the orbital laboratory.
Subsequent to these activities, Flight Engineer Konstantin Borisov of Roscosmos teamed up with Chub and Kononenko in the late afternoon to conduct evaluations and inspections of the Nauka multipurpose laboratory module.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Expedition 70 on ISS
What was the main activity of the Expedition 70 crew on October 24?
The primary activity of the Expedition 70 crew on the International Space Station on October 24 was to prepare for a series of forthcoming spacewalks. This involved reviewing procedures and setting up tools for the extravehicular activities. The crew also performed general maintenance tasks and conducted health assessments.
Who are the cosmonauts scheduled for the next spacewalk from the Poisk module?
Flight Engineers Nikolai Chub and Oleg Kononenko from Roscosmos are slated to embark on a seven-hour spacewalk from the station’s Poisk module. The spacewalk is scheduled for 1:55 p.m. EDT on the day following October 24.
What tasks are planned for Nikolai Chub and Oleg Kononenko during their spacewalk?
The tasks for Chub and Kononenko during their planned seven-hour spacewalk include installing communication equipment, deploying a nanosatellite, and inspecting an external backup radiator that has experienced a coolant leak.
What measures are being taken to counteract the risk of coolant contamination?
NASA and Roscosmos have agreed to implement specific post-spacewalk procedures aimed at minimizing the risk of coolant contamination within the International Space Station. These precautions include wiping down the Roscosmos Orlan spacesuits and the tools used during the spacewalk to remove any traces of coolant. Additional air filtration will also be used inside the space station to remove any remaining trace contaminants.
What is the CEVIS system, and who was responsible for its installation?
The CEVIS system is an updated exercise bicycle for the International Space Station. Flight Engineer Loral O’Hara of NASA and Commander Andreas Mogensen of the European Space Agency (ESA) were responsible for completing the installation of this new system.
Who are the first-time spacewalkers scheduled for October 30?
NASA’s Flight Engineers Loral O’Hara and Jasmin Moghbeli are the first-time spacewalkers scheduled for a mission on October 30. They will be tasked with removing the Radio Frequency Group and replacing hardware on a solar array during their six-and-a-half-hour extravehicular activity.
What is the focus of the ongoing CIPHER investigation?
The CIPHER investigation, or Complement of Integrated Protocols for Human Exploration Research, is an integrated research program that aims to understand how the human body adapts to conditions in space. The investigation involves a total-body approach and includes eye tomography scans among its range of tests.
What were the routine duties of Flight Engineer Satoshi Furukawa?
Flight Engineer Satoshi Furukawa of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) prepared cargo for SpaceX’s 29th resupply mission, which is set to launch no earlier than November 5. He also joined Andreas Mogensen to review robotic procedures to be used in the upcoming week.
What was the focus of the late afternoon activities for Roscosmos engineers?
In the late afternoon, Flight Engineer Konstantin Borisov of Roscosmos was joined by Nikolai Chub and Oleg Kononenko for evaluations and inspections of the Nauka multipurpose laboratory module.
More about Expedition 70 on ISS
- International Space Station Overview
- Roscosmos Official Website
- NASA’s Expedition 70 Mission Page
- Information on CEVIS Systems
- Overview of Nauka Multipurpose Laboratory Module
- SpaceX’s 29th Cargo Resupply Mission
- Details on CIPHER Study and Human Adaptation in Space
- ESA (European Space Agency) Website
- JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) Official Site
8 comments
They always say risk is very low until something goes wrong. just sayin.
Wow, they’ve got a packed schedule up there, huh? kinda makes you wonder how they manage to fit in sleep with all that going on!
First time spacewalkers? Must be both exciting and nerve-wracking for O’Hara and Moghbeli. Wishing them all the best!
interesting to see international cooperation in space. Roscosmos and NASA working together is a good sign for future endeavors.
That coolant leak sounds serious. Good they’re taking precautions, safety first ppl!
Really intrigued by the new CEVIS system. An upgrade for the station’s bicycle? sounds like a good way to keep fit in space.
Nauka multipurpose lab module, huh? curious to know more about it. anyone got more info?
Cipher sounds like some top-secret spy stuff. But seriously, Human adaptation research is crucial for long term space missions. Can’t wait to see the results!