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Two NASA astronauts will upgrade a crucial science module of the International Space Station in orbit during a spacewalk today (January 27), and you can watch it live.
The spacewalk is expected to begin at 7:00 a.m. EST (11:30 a.m. GMT) if the final preparation procedures go as planned, and last about six and a half hours, according to NASA. Coverage will begin at 5:30 a.m. EST (10:00 a.m. GMT) and you can watch it live here on Space.com, courtesy of NASA TV.
Floating in space, flight engineers Michael Hopkins (on his third spacewalk, wearing red stripes on his spacesuit because he is the first spacewalker) and Victor Glover (on his first spacewalk).
Related: The International Space Station: Inside and Out (infographic)
During today’s spacewalk, astronauts will focus on finishing the essential cable and antenna configuration for a new research platform, Bartolomeo, outside of the Columbus module of the European Space Agency. Bartolomeo will simultaneously host up to 12 research experiments in fields such as astrophysics, robotics and materials physics.
Other space walking tasks will include setting up a high-speed Ka-band terminal that will allow the science module to communicate independently with European ground stations, and removing a grapple mount to prepare. to future power system upgrades, NASA added.
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At least three more spacewalks are planned for the Expedition 64 crew, including one with the same astronauts on Monday (February 1), when Glover and Hopkins install the final lithium-ion battery adapter plate for Wrap four years of crucial battery space station upgrades, which replaced older, less powerful nickel-hydrogen batteries.
Other tasks for Monday’s spacewalk include removing another grapple mounting bracket, installing two cameras, and replacing components of the Japanese robotic arm’s camera system outside of the Kibo module from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
A third spacewalk (date to be announced) will see Glover and NASA astronaut Kate Rubins prepare the space station’s power system for a power boost using new solar panels. The fourth extravehicular activity – also not yet scheduled – will see Rubins and JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi make more station upgrades, which NASA will describe at an upcoming media briefing.
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