NASA Astronauts to Install Final International Space Station Solar Array

NASA mission managers have given the go for two astronauts to exit the International Space Station on Thursday to install its eighth and final roll-out solar array. The spacewalk, scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. EST, is expected to last approximately seven hours, according to NASA.

The Spacewalk Procedure

Astronaut Joshua Kutryk of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and NASA astronaut Anil Menon will perform the installation on the starboard truss structure. The mission involves a maneuver described as the "leapfrog," where Menon will ride the Canadarm2 robotic arm as far as it can reach, after which the two astronauts will pass the array between foot restraints.

Inside the station, NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney will operate the robotic arm to support the spacewalkers. This task follows a previous spacewalk on Oct. 29, where the pair installed the seventh array. That Oct. 29 mission marked the 100th U.S. spacewalk from the station.

Power Capacity and Technology

The installation of the International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array (iROSA) system is part of a project that began in June 2021. Once the final array is installed, NASA says the station's power-generating capacity will increase by approximately 30%, rising from 160 kilowatts to about 215 kilowatts.

Each iROSA measures approximately 60 feet long by 20 feet wide. While smaller than the original wings, which measure 112 feet long by 39 feet wide, each new array produces more than 20 kilowatts in orbital daylight, according to NASA. The arrays are designed to be mounted in front of existing solar wings to supplement power.

Mission Objectives

NASA states that the additional electricity supports research and critical operations through the station's final years. NASA plans to retire the station in 2030, and reliable power is required for a safe and controlled deorbit.

In addition to spacewalk preparations, the Expedition 75 crew has been conducting various scientific tasks, including:

• Joshua Kutryk: Inspected station water samples for microbial growth.
• Anil Menon: Swabbed station surfaces for microbes.
• Jessica Watkins: Collected bacteria samples to test antibiotic resistance.
• Luke Delaney: Processed human lung cells to test growth in microgravity.

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Sources

• nasa.gov: Astronauts are Go for Final Power Upgrade Spacewalk - NASA
• natureworldnews.com: Roll-Out Solar Arrays Half the Size of the Originals Push Space Station Power Upgrade to Its Final Spacewalk
• techtimes.com: NASA Astronauts to Install Final ISS Solar Array in Historic Space Station Power Upgrade

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.