ISS spacewalkers discover there's no such thing as a quick antenna job
Astronauts removed broken hardware but will have to return for more orbital DIY
In a recent spacewalk, astronauts Anil Menon and Sophie Adenot from NASA and the European Space Agency faced unexpected challenges while attempting to replace an antenna on the International Space Station (ISS). The spacewalk, originally scheduled for yesterday, was delayed due to an issue with a carbon dioxide sensor in Menon's suit during a previous spacewalk. Adenot became the first French woman to perform a spacewalk during this mission.
The astronauts' objective was to remove the faulty antenna, install a spare unit from an external platform, and stow the old one. However, they soon encountered stubborn electrical connections and bolts that proved much more difficult to deal with than anticipated. Disconnecting the cables and loosening the bolts took significantly longer than planned, ultimately forcing the pair to leave the task incomplete.
Despite temporarily securing the faulty antenna, mission managers halted the procedure, citing the need to preserve time for more pressing matters. The ISS currently has a fully operational space-to-ground antenna, but restoring redundancy is a priority. The next spacewalk is tentatively scheduled for August 25, though it remains uncertain whether the incomplete antenna work can be incorporated into its agenda.
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