Next U.S. Spacewalks Previewed

TL;DR

The crew on the International Space Station is doing well, and upcoming spacewalks will focus on reconfiguring and maintaining the station.

Transcript

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY, I'M DAN HEWITT. WELCOME TO JOHNSON SPACE CENTER IN HOUSTON, TEXAS. WE'RE HERE TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THEM TODAY. JOINING ME HERE UP ON THE DESK TO TALK TO YOU, IS KENNY TODD, THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION OPERATIONS AND INTEGRATIONS MANAGER. THE LEAD FLIGHT DIRECTOR AND TWO LEAD SPACE WALK OFFICERS, FOR EV... Read More

Key Insights

• 👾 The International Space Station has achieved a significant milestone of 15 years of human presence in space.
• 🚉 The upcoming spacewalks will focus on reconfiguring the station and preparing for future commercial crew vehicles.
• 😀 The crew on the International Space Station faces challenges such as working in tight spaces and dealing with complex equipment, but with thorough preparation, they are able to successfully complete their tasks.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the significance of the 15-year milestone for the International Space Station program?

The 15-year milestone marks the amount of time humans have been living continuously in space, which is an impressive feat for the program and a sign of its success and progress.

Q: What is the purpose of the upcoming spacewalks?

The spacewalks will focus on reconfiguring the station to prepare for future commercial crew vehicles. This includes laying power cables for new docking ports and performing maintenance tasks on external equipment.

Q: How do astronauts prepare for spacewalks while in orbit?

Astronauts receive training on Earth, including powerpoint presentations and simulations. They also use a tool called DOUG (Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics) to practice and visualize the spacewalk tasks. Before the spacewalk, the crew goes through a dry run, wearing their suits and going through the final preparations.

Q: What are the limits of a spacewalk in terms of duration?

Spacewalks are typically limited to around 6.5 hours due to factors such as CO2 scrubbing capabilities in the suits. However, they can be extended up to 8-9 hours if necessary, depending on the crew's metabolic rate and other factors.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The crew on the International Space Station is celebrating their 208th day in space and is in good health with no major issues.

• The focus for this year has been on maintaining a steady science program and preparing for future commercial crew vehicles.

• Three visiting vehicles are scheduled to come to the station between mid-November and the end of the year, making it a busy time for the crew.