On June 13, NASA astronauts Tracy C. Dyson and Matt Dominick will go on a historic spacewalk at the International Space Station (ISS) to investigate the presence of microorganisms on the exterior of the orbital outpost. This research experiment has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the ability of microorganisms to survive and reproduce in extreme environments.
The spacewalk, scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. ET, is not your typical upgrade or maintenance mission. Instead, Dyson and Dominick will be collecting samples for analysis to better comprehend the viability of microbial life on the outside of the ISS. The pair will also be removing a defective electronics box, known as a radio frequency group, from a communications antenna on the starboard truss of the space station.
This is not the first time NASA has sent astronauts on a spacewalk to collect samples or conduct research. But the scope of this mission is unique, as it seeks to investigate the potential presence of living organisms in an environment where they are not expected to thrive.
For Dyson, this will be her fourth spacewalk, while it will be Dominick’s first. Both astronauts arrived at the ISS in March, Dyson aboard a Soyuz spacecraft and Dominick on a SpaceX Crew Dragon as part of Crew-8.
The spacewalk will be broadcast live on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and NASA’s website. Viewers will be able to identify Dyson by the red stripes on her spacesuit and Dominick by his unmarked suit. The mission is expected to take around six and a half hours, giving plenty of opportunities for those interested to tune in and out of the coverage.
The discovery of microbial life on the exterior of the ISS would be a significant finding, with implications for our understanding of the origins of life on Earth and the possibility of life existing elsewhere in the universe. While the chances of finding anything as dramatic as an alien-like species are low, the potential rewards are enormous.
NASA Astronaut Matthew Dominick (Via Matthew Dominick/Twitter)
NASA’s decision to invest in this research is a testament to the agency’s commitment to advancing our understanding of the universe and the potential for life beyond Earth. By investing in this research, NASA is helping to push the boundaries of scientific knowledge and potentially opening up new avenues for exploration and discovery.
In addition to the live stream, NASA will also be offering a stream of the preparations for the spacewalk, which will begin at 6:30 a.m. ET. This will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the preparations and planning that goes into a spacewalk, as well as the excitement and anticipation building up among the astronauts and mission control.
The upcoming spacewalk is just one of several that will be taking place in the coming weeks. Two more spacewalks are scheduled for June 24 and July 2, offering another opportunity for viewers to tune in and experience the thrill of space exploration.
The upcoming spacewalk is a significant event that has the potential to yield groundbreaking findings and further our understanding of the universe. With NASA’s commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and pushing the boundaries of human exploration, we can expect many more exciting missions like this in the future.
