NASA is gearing up for its first spacewalk of 2024, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday, June 13. The spacewalk, also known as an extravehicular activity (EVA), will be conducted by astronauts Tracy C. Dyson and Matt Dominick, who will venture out of the International Space Station (ISS) via the Quest airlock. The two astronauts will go on a six-and-a-half hour mission to remove a faulty electronics box, known as a radio frequency group, from a communications antenna on the starboard truss of the orbital outpost.
This will be the fourth spacewalk for Dyson, while Dominick will be going on his first. Both astronauts arrived at the ISS in March, Dyson on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft and Dominick on a SpaceX Crew Dragon as part of Crew-8. The last NASA spacewalk took place in November 2023, but NASA is set to conduct a total of three spacewalks in the next three weeks, with two more scheduled for June 24 and July 2.
The spacewalk is a critical operation that requires careful planning and execution. The astronauts will be equipped with specialized suits and helmets, and will be connected to the ISS via a tether to prevent them from drifting away. They will also be able to communicate with Mission Control back on Earth through a live audio feed.
NASA Prepares for Exciting Spacewalk Sequence in 2024
The spacewalk will be streamed in real-time on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, NASA’s YouTube channel, and the agency’s website, as well as through a player embedded at the top of this page. Viewers will be able to see the astronauts in action through multiple cameras, which will track their movements outside the ISS. Commentary by NASA will also be provided to help viewers understand the various activities undertaken by the two astronauts.
One of the main objectives of the spacewalk is to remove the faulty electronics box from the communications antenna. This will require the astronauts to perform a series of tasks, including disconnecting cables and removing screws. The box, which is known as a radio frequency group, plays a critical role in the communication system of the ISS. By removing it, the astronauts will be able to free up space for future upgrades and repairs.
In addition to the main objective, the astronauts will also spend some time collecting microorganisms from the exterior of the ISS for research. This will help scientists gain a clearer understanding about how such microorganisms survive and reproduce on the exterior of the Earth-orbiting satellite. This research will be valuable in helping scientists to better understand the effects of space travel on living organisms and to develop strategies for mitigating these effects.
The spacewalk is a testament to the advanced technology and expertise of NASA, as well as the dedication and skill of the astronauts who will be conducting it. With the help of the ISS and its advanced systems, NASA is able to conduct a wide range of scientific research and experiments, including the study of the Earth’s atmosphere, the behavior of materials in space, and the effects of space travel on living organisms.
