Space Station Crew Prepares for Jan. 30 Spacewalk

Space & Earth science / Space Exploration

Commander Peggy Whitson (left) and Flight Engineer Dan Tani answer questions from the Chicago Daily Tribune on Thursday morning. Image credit: NASA TV

Commander Peggy Whitson and Flight Engineer Dan Tani are readying their spacesuits for the upcoming spacewalk on Wednesday, Jan. 30.

They are installing metal oxide canisters that remove carbon dioxide and new batteries to power their suits for the 6-hour spacewalk.

Next week’s spacewalk activities include inspecting the station's right solar array gear and removing and replacing the "broom" -- the bearing motor roll ring module. Over the weekend, cameras on the Canadarm2 will videotape the condition of the solar array gear as it rotates 360 degrees. The video inspection will assist engineers on the ground as they formulate a plan on future repairs.

On Monday, Feb. 4, a Progress 27 resupply vehicle will leave the orbiting laboratory and be replaced three days later when the Progress 28 arrives. In preparation for the arrival of Progress 28, Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko is testing an automated rendezvous system from the Pirs docking compartment.

Source: NASA

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