May 6, 2024

Spacewalk Snafu: Astronauts Lose Tool Bag in Orbital Oopsy

NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli (top) and Loral OHara (bottom) collaborate during their very first spacewalk for maintenance on the exterior of the spaceport station. Credit: NASA TELEVISION
NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral OHara concluded their spacewalk today at 2:47 p.m. EST after 6 hours and 42 minutes. Their spacewalk began at 8:05 a.m. Moghbeli, designated extravehicular crew member 1 (EV1), was using a match with red stripes. OHara, designated extravehicular crew member 2 (EV 2), remained in an unmarked match.
Moghbeli and OHara had the ability to finish among the spacewalks two significant goals, changing one of the 12 trundle bearing assemblies on the port solar alpha rotary joint, which allows the arrays to track the Sun and create electrical power to power the station. Mission Control informed the station crew that the solar range was operating well after the bearing replacement. Spacewalkers also got rid of a managing bar fixture to prepare for future installation of a roll-out solar variety and properly configured a cable television that was previously interfering with an external cam.
Deferred Tasks and Tool Bag Incident
The astronauts had planned to get rid of and stow an interactions electronic devices box called the Radio Frequency Group, but there was not sufficient time during the spacewalk to finish the work. The duo raised some multilayer insulation to make a better assessment of how to approach the job before replacing the insulation and deferring the task to a future spacewalk.

NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral OHara concluded their spacewalk today at 2:47 p.m. EST after 6 hours and 42 minutes. Moghbeli and OHara were able to complete one of the spacewalks 2 significant goals, changing one of the 12 trundle bearing assemblies on the port solar alpha rotary joint, which enables the arrays to track the Sun and generate electricity to power the station. Objective Control informed the station crew that the solar variety was operating well after the bearing replacement. Mission Control analyzed the bags trajectory and determined that danger of recontacting the station is low and that the onboard crew and area station are safe with no action required.

( From left) Astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral OHara are pictured attempting on their spacesuits and checking their fits elements aboard the space station. Credit: NASA
During the activity, one tool bag was accidentally lost. Flight controllers identified the tool bag utilizing external station video cameras. The tools were not needed for the rest of the spacewalk. Objective Control analyzed the bags trajectory and determined that danger of recontacting the station is low and that the onboard crew and spaceport station are safe with no action required.
Upcoming Missions and Resupply Launch
Moghbeli and OHara remain in the midst of a science mission living and working aboard the microgravity lab to advance clinical knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration missions, consisting of lunar missions through NASAs Artemis program.
NASA and SpaceX are now targeting 9:16 p.m. EST on Tuesday, November 7, for the launch of the companys 29th industrial resupply services objective to the International Space Station. The additional time allows for completion of last prelaunch processing ahead of liftoff of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and freight Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
NASA Television protection of launch will begin at 8:45 p.m. The spacecraft, which is bring around 6,500 pounds of products, research study, and hardware will arrive at the spaceport station soon before 12 p.m. Thursday, November 9, with protection beginning at 10:15 a.m.