Blogs

US Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Battery Charging Discharging Unit (BCDU) 2B2 Replacement Preparations: Over the past weekend when activating the new Li-Ion 2B2 battery BCDU, the converter close command failed; ground teams have determined that performing an EVA to replace the failed BCDU with a new spare will restore full functionality to the Channel 2B.  Today, …

NASA is targeting a spacewalk for no earlier than Friday to replace a failed power controller, also known as the battery charge-discharge unit (BCDU). The Expedition 61 crew is adjusting its schedule this week to accommodate the new spacewalk plans at the International Space Station. Astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir are continuing their preparations …

US Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Battery Charging Discharging Unit (BCDU) 2B2 Replacement Preparations: During periods of insolation, the BCDU extracts power from the primary power bus, conditions this power and charges the batteries. During periods of eclipse, the BCDU extracts power from the battery bus, conditions this power and supplies it to the primary power bus …

NASA has set the first all-female spacewalk for later this week while the Expedition 61 crew works life science today aboard the International Space Station. A new commercial cargo vehicle is also being readied for future delivery missions. NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir are readying their spacesuits and reviewing procedures for a spacewalk …

Astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir will venture outside the International Space Station late this week to replace a power controller that failed during the weekend. The spacewalk, the first ever that will be conducted by two women, is planned for Thursday or Friday. Station managers decided to postpone previously planned spacewalks that had been …

By Emily B. Hite /NUKU'ALOFA, TONGA/ Under the moonlight of Friday, October 11, 2019, I eagerly trekked across Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai (HTHH) with a team from Sea Education Association (SEA) and NASA to complete one final mission: to measure temperatures around the perimeter of the volcano's crater lake. To our delight, our thermal imaging …

By Natalia Chiapperi & Carlin Schildge /HUNGA TONGA-HUNGA HA'APAI, KINGDOM OF TONGA/ As we begin to wrap up our time here at HTHH, the data collection slowed down and we found some free time to enjoy the beauty and seclusion of the island. The day started late, with an 8:40 wake-up call, the latest we've …

P6 Battery Extravehicular Activity (EVA) #2 (US EVA #57):  Today, the ISS crew completed EVA #2 with the crew lock egress occurring around 6:38 am CT.  Today’s EVA focused on completing the P6 Solar Array Channel 2B Li-Ion battery upgrades.  This included installing the third and final Li-Ion battery to the Channel 2B IEA.  The …

Expedition 61 Flight Engineers Christina Koch and Andrew Morgan of NASA concluded their spacewalk at the International Space Station at 2:23 p.m. EDT. During six-hour and 45-minute spacewalk, the two NASA astronauts continued the replacement of nickel-hydrogen batteries with newer, more powerful lithium-ion batteries on the far end of the station’s port truss. Astronauts also were able to accomplish …

By Cameron Gallant and Katherine H. Webber /HUNGA TONGA-HUNGA HA'APAI, KINGDOM OF TONGA/ KATHERINE: Walking on deck, I welcomed our first sunny day at HTHH; however, upon reaching the island, I was greeted by hot black sand and an all-consuming heat that would last all day. Soon, as a part of the bird/vegetation team, Emily, …