NASA astronaut Tim Kopra captured this image of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, on the company’s eighth Commercial Resupply Services mission, from the Cupola Module of the International Space Station during Expedition 47 in April 2016. Credits: NASA
Spacewalks have been taking place for years, but never before has technology allowed us such an up close and personal glimpse into the lives of the technicians floating outside the reach of gravity. Watch as two astronauts maintain equipment that provides us with the information and communication that we rely on every day.
From Nasa:
On Sept. 1, two NASA astronauts will spacewalk outside the International Space Station for the second time in less than two weeks.
NASA Television will provide complete coverage beginning at 6:30 a.m. EDT, with the six-and-a-half hour spacewalk scheduled to begin about 8 a.m.
Working on the port side of the orbiting complex’s backbone, or truss, Expedition 48 Commander Jeff Williams and Flight Engineer Kate Rubins of NASA will retract a thermal radiator that is part of the station’s cooling system. The radiator is a backup that had been deployed previously as part of an effort to fix an ammonia coolant leak. They’ll also tighten struts on a solar array joint, and install the first of several enhanced high-definition television cameras that will be used to monitor activities outside the station, including the comings and goings of visiting cargo and crew vehicles.
NASA TV will air a briefing to preview the spacewalk activities at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24. The briefing participants are:
Zeb Scoville, spacewalk flight director
John Mularski, lead spacewalk officer
Reporters may attend the briefing at Johnson or ask questions by calling the Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111 no later than 1:45 p.m. Aug. 24.This will be the 195th spacewalk in support of space station assembly and maintenance, the fifth of Williams’ career and the second for Rubins. As was the case for their first spacewalk together Aug. 19, Williams will be designated as extravehicular crew member 1 (EV1), wearing a spacesuit with a red stripe, while Rubins will be EV2, wearing a suit with no stripes.”
Get NASA TV streaming video, schedule and downlink information at:
Learn the latest on the International Space Station, its crew members and their research at:
source: www.nasa.gov
