SCIENCE
Astronauts removed damaged hardware but must return for additional orbital maintenance.
Electrical connections and recalcitrant bolts thwarted attempts to replace an antenna on the International Space Station yesterday, necessitating that spacewalkers defer installation of the replacement unit to a future excursion.
What was expected as a concise procedure extended significantly as bolts resisted removal and unexpected complications consumed valuable work time.
A pair of astronauts encountered similar difficulties when removing a faulty antenna from the orbiting outpost; insufficient time remained to install its replacement.
NASA astronaut Anil Menon and European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot executed the extravehicular activity. The mission had been postponed following an anomalous carbon dioxide sensor reading in Menon’s suit during a previous spacewalk on August 6; the issue resolved after suit removal.
The August 18 excursion marked a historic milestone, as Adenot became the first French woman to conduct a spacewalk. Assisted by Menon operating the Canadarm2 and Adenot tethered to the station’s truss, the pair aimed to remove the failed antenna, install a spare stored on an external platform, and stow the degraded unit.
The operation proved more complex than anticipated. Disconnecting electrical cables and loosening bolts consumed significantly more time than projected. While the astronauts successfully removed the defective antenna and secured it temporarily, mission managers terminated the excursion before a replacement unit could be installed.
Space-to-ground antennas enable high-data-rate communications via NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. Although the ISS retains a fully operational unit, managers prioritize restoring redundant coverage promptly.
The next spacewalk is scheduled for Tuesday, August 25; however, NASA has not confirmed whether the pending antenna replacement will be incorporated into the planned tasks.
