Spacewalk Begins
NASA astronauts Chris Williams and Jessica Meir stepped outside the International Space Station on Tuesday to replace a faulty wrist joint on Canadarm2, the Canadian-built robotic arm that has kept the orbiting laboratory running for more than 25 years.
Footage shows European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot and NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway carrying out final checks on the astronauts’ spacesuits before Williams and Meir entered the Quest airlock.
The pair then exited the station, working in the vacuum of space as teams at NASA’s Mission Control monitored the repair from Earth.
Robotic Arm Repair
The job centred on a wrist joint that failed during routine Canadarm2 operations on May 27, when the arm drew elevated motor current and did not move as expected.
NASA and the Canadian Space Agency later determined the joint would need to be replaced during a spacewalk, using a spare already stored aboard the station.
Canadarm2 Legacy
The 17.6-metre Canadarm2 has been central to ISS operations since its installation in 2001. It helped assemble the station, captures cargo spacecraft, supports spacewalks and moves heavy components astronauts cannot safely handle by hand.
Unlike the original Canadarm used on NASA’s Space Shuttle fleet, Canadarm2 can ‘walk’ along the outside of the station. It does this by detaching one end and locking on to another grapple fixture, allowing it to reach almost every part of the ISS.
NASA said repairs like this are expected after more than two decades in orbit, with Canadarm2 designed so key parts can be swapped out during long-term maintenance.
NASA TV, via Viory.Video
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