NASA earlier announced that two astronauts aboard the International Space Station will be conducting a spacewalk on Thursday, Feb. 2. What did NASA hope to accomplish from this spacewalk? How can you watch it live? Continue reading to find out.
What NASA hopes to Accomplish from this Spacewalk
NASA never allows astronauts to conduct a spacewalk without a reason. Most spacewalks are often conducted to install a new instrument or for the maintenance of the space station. The primary goal of this spacewalk is to continue the installation of hardware for future power system upgrades.
On Thursday, Feb. 2, at 8:15 a.m. EST, NASA astronaut Nicole Mann and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Koichi Wakata will exit the ISS’s Quest airlock and commence with the spacewalk which will last for about six and a half hours. During the spacewalk, the two astronauts will complete the installation of a mounting platform on the 1A power channel. This installation will be made as part of the already planned solar array augmentation on the starboard side of the ISS’s truss.
On January 20, Mann teamed up with Wakata on a spacewalk to commence with the installation of the mounting platform. Hence, the duo will be conducting a spacewalk today to complete the installation which they have already started. The astronauts will also be installing and relocating an articulating portable foot restraint from the P6 truss to aid future spacewalk goals.
If they were able to complete their tasks on time, Mann and Wakata will be completing cable routing on the 1B power channel as part of today’s spacewalk.
“The installation is part of a series of spacewalks to augment the station’s power channels with new International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Arrays (iROSAs),” NASA wrote in an update. “Four iROSAs have been installed so far, and two additional arrays will be mounted to the installed platforms during future spacewalks following their arrival this year on NASA’s SpaceX 28th commercial resupply services mission.”
During the spacewalk, Mann will work as extravehicular crew member 1 and she will put on a suit with red stripes. Wakata will stand as the extravehicular crew member 2, and he will wear an unmarked spacesuit. Hence, you can easily identify the astronauts when you watch them live today.
How to Watch two astronauts conducting a spacewalk today
NASA ensures that it covers each spacewalk conducted by astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Hence, if you have an interest in watching today’s spacewalk, you should endeavor to join NASA Live on NASA Television, NASA’s website, and the NASA App. You should choose a platform that is more convenient for you. The Livestreaming will be starting at 6:45 a.m. EST.
Conclusion
Watching astronauts conduct a spacewalk is one of the best moments every space lover is looking up for. During the spacewalk, you will learn how astronauts float around the International Space Station to fix some issues. You will also learn how astronauts install new instruments on the outside of the station. Hence, you surely have a lot to learn from today’s spacewalk. We at Future Space World is wishing you happy viewing.
