Inspenet, June 12, 2023
Expedition 69 flight engineers Steve Bowen and Woody Hoburg began the spacewalk at 3:15 p.m. Spanish peninsular time to upgrade the International Space Station (ISS) power generation system with solar panels. And after six hours and three minutes, both cosmonauts completed all their goals.
NASA’s Historic Mission: Upgrade the International Space Station’s Power Infrastructure with Cutting-Edge Solar Panels
The main mission of this walk was to install an IROSA (International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array) to increase power generation in the ISS structure.
Besides, the POT He points out in his blog that “the new arrangements measure 18.2 meters long by six meters wide. Each one will produce more than 20 kilowatts of electricity and, once all are installed, they will allow for a 30% increase in power production over current sets.”
Next-generation solar panels light the way to space exploration
For the rest, the members also completed various tasks to install the sixth panel of the IROSA series on the station structure.
Bowen and Hoburg are currently in the midst of a science mission living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration missions, including lunar missions through NASA’s Artemis program.
This was the 264th spacewalk in support of space station assembly, upgrades, and maintenance, and was the third spacewalk for both astronauts.
Source and cover photo : Fayerwayer
Photos : NASA
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