Space

Watch an ISS spacewalk February 1

Tiny astronaut between 2 larger parts of a spacecraft against the blackness of space.
View larger. | NASA astronaut Victor Glover (center right), dwarfed by the main solar arrays on the International Space Station’s far port-side truss structure as he prepares the worksite for future solar array upgrades during the January 27, 2021 spacewalk. Image via NASA/ Flickr.

On Monday, February 1, 2021, two NASA astronauts will perform the second in a pair of International Space Station spacewalks to finish installing a European science platform and complete long-term battery upgrade work. The first spacewalk took place on January 27. Completion will mark the end of a four-year-long battery replacement project, and three cameras will feature new upgrades. The astronauts will also remove another grapple fixture bracket on the same truss segment that was modified during the first spacewalk. NASA TV’s live coverage of the spacewalk will begin on Monday at 5:30 a.m. EST (10:30 UTC). The spacewalk itself begins at around 7:00 a.m. EST (12:00 UTC), and will last about 6 1/2 hours. Watch here.

The 2021 lunar calendars are here. Order yours before they’re gone!

NASA flight engineers Michael Hopkins and Victor Glover, who flew to the space station aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon Resilience spacecraft, will conduct the spacewalk, which will be the 234th in support of space station assembly, maintenance, and upgrades. NASA has set the focus of the spacewalk on a variety of tasks, including installation of a final lithium-ion battery adapter plate on the port 4 (P4) truss that will wrap up battery replacement work begun in January 2017. Hopkins and Glover will remove another grapple fixture bracket on the truss segment, replace an external camera on the starboard truss, install a new high-definition camera on the Destiny laboratory, and replace components for the Japanese robotic arm’s camera system outside the Kibo module.

Hopkins will be designated extravehicular crew member 1 for the spacewalk. Look for him in a spacesuit with red stripes. Glover will be extravehicular crew member 2, wearing a suit with no stripes. This will be the fourth spacewalk in Hopkins’ career, and the second for Glover.

Bottom line: Watch two ISS astronauts spacewalk on February 1, 2021.

Via NASA

Posted 
January 30, 2021
 in 
Space

Like what you read?
Subscribe and receive daily news delivered to your inbox.

Your email address will only be used for EarthSky content. Privacy Policy
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

More from 

Lia De La Cruz

View All