Funny time aboard the International Space Station (ISS). After the disturbance caused on Wednesday June 12 following the broadcast of an audio message evoking a health concern for one of the crew members (it was in fact an exercise), now the exit in the The space scheduled for the next day had to be canceled an hour before its start.
NASA astronauts Tracy Dyson and Matt Dominick were to work outside the ISS to complete several tasks, including removing a faulty electronics box from a communications antenna and taking samples from the Station’s exterior surfaces to find out whether it releases microbes and, if so, how far they travel.
Tracy Dyson and Matt Dominick had already put on their pressure suits and were carrying out the procedures that would lead them to exit the ISS when NASA decided to abandon the mission. “Astronauts Tracy Dyson and Matt Dominick were preparing for EVA 90, the 90th spacewalk, but today’s spacewalk will not go as planned,” said the US space agency’s commentator who followed the event live. What happened ?
In a press release published later, NASA explains that “the American extravehicular walk planned for Thursday at the International Space Station did not go as planned due to a problem with discomfort in the spacesuit. » No other explanations on the cause of this “discomfort” or which of the two astronauts experienced it.
The return to Earth of the Boeing Starliner postponed again
In any case, the problem does not seem very serious since two other extravehicular outings have been announced. The next one will take place on June 24 and will be devoted to the removal of the defective electronic box of a communications antenna. The second is scheduled for July 2 and its program is currently being prepared.
It is unknown whether this program shift has a direct link with NASA’s decision to once again postpone the return to Earth of Boeing’s Starliner capsule. Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore will leave the ISS on June 22. Arrived on June 6,
tandem was initially planned to remain in orbit for eight days. Their mission was first extended until June 18 and now until the 22nd.
Starliner took off after several postponements and despite the discovery of a small helium leak deemed to pose little risk to the smooth running of the mission. Once the capsule was in space, four more helium leaks were detected. NASA estimates that this problem does not jeopardize the return trip and that the quantity of helium is much greater than needed.
