By NASA
January 20, 2023
Exploration 68 Flight Engineer and NASA astronaut Josh Cassada prepares a roll-out solar array for implementation throughout a spacewalk on December 22, 2022. Credit: NASA
NASA astronaut Nicole Mann and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi Wakata started a spacewalk today (January 20) at 8:14 a.m. EST to finish the installation of 2 mounting platforms as part of planned solar range augmentation on the starboard side of the area stations truss. The duo will finish the setup of an installing platform on the 1B power channel that was started throughout a previous spacewalk, and begin installing a mounting platform on the 1A power channel.
Expedition 68 Flight Engineers Nicole Mann and Koichi Wakata posture with an Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU), likewise called a spacesuit on December 28, 2022. Credit: NASA
The setup belongs to a series of spacewalks to augment the International Space Stations power channels with new International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays (iROSAs). Four iROSAs have been installed so far, and 2 more will be mounted to the platforms installed throughout this spacewalk in the future.
Mann, designated as extravehicular crew member 2 (EV 2), is wearing an unmarked fit. Wakata, designated as extravehicular crew member 1 (EV 1), is using a match with red stripes. Coverage of the spacewalk continues NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agencys website.
Nicole Mann and Koichi Wakata got here on station on October 6, 2022, as part of the SpaceX Crew-5 objective that launched on October 5.
