A view of the brand-new roll-out solar array unfolding after NASA astronauts Steve Bowen and Woody Hoburg successfully installed it to the 1B power channel on June 15, 2023. Credit: NASA TELEVISION
NASA astronauts, Woody Hoburg and Steve Bowen, effectively installed a new solar variety on the International Space Station throughout a 5-hour spacewalk, increasing power production. This marked Bowens tenth spacewalk, connecting the record for the majority of U.S. spacewalks.
Expedition 69 Flight Engineers Woody Hoburg and Steve Bowen of NASA concluded their spacewalk at 2:17 p.m. EDT (11:17 a.m. PDT) after 5 hours and 35 minutes. The spacewalk started at 8:42 a.m. EDT.
Hoburg and Bowen finished their major objective to install an IROSA (International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array) to augment power generation for the 1B power channel on the stations starboard truss structure.
NASA astronaut and Expedition 68 Flight Engineer Woody Hoburg trips the Canadarm2 robotic arm while navigating a roll-out solar selection toward the International Space Stations truss structure 257 miles above the Pacific Ocean. In the back, is the SpaceX Dragon team vehicle that docked to the Harmony modules forward port on March 3 bring four SpaceX Crew-6 crew members. Credit: NASA
The brand-new array is 60 feet long by 20 feet large (18.2 meters by 6 meters) and is shading a little bit majority of the original selection, which is 112 feet long by 39 feet large. Each new IROSA produces more than 20 kilowatts of electricity and together allow a 30% increase in power production over the stations present arrays.
NASA astronaut and Expedition 68 Flight Engineer Woody Hoburg rides the Canadarm2 robotic arm while maneuvering a roll-out solar variety toward the International Space Stations truss structure 257 miles above the Pacific Ocean. In the rear, is the SpaceX Dragon team automobile that docked to the Harmony modules forward port on March 3 carrying four SpaceX Crew-6 team members. Credit: NASA
NASA and Boeing have a strategy in location for a 4th set of roll-out selections to additional augment the International Space Stations power supply. These varieties, which would be the seventh and eighth installed on area station, are targeted for shipment to the orbital station in 2025.
It was the 265th spacewalk in assistance of area station assembly, upgrades, and upkeep. The spacewalk marked the second for Hoburg and tenth for Bowen, connecting him for the most spacewalks by a U.S. astronaut in addition to Mike Lopez-Alegria, Bob Behnken, Peggy Whitson, and Chris Cassidy.
Hoburg and Bowen are in the midst of a science mission living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific understanding and show new technologies for future human and robotic expedition objectives, consisting of lunar objectives through NASAs Artemis program.