The US space agency this week postponed the spacewalk of astronauts Thomas Marshburn and Kayla Barron, which was scheduled to take place last night (Tuesday) due to reports of debris floating in the area of the International Space Station that could endanger their safety.
This delay delays the replacement of the communications antenna located on the space station that recently ceased to function and that the two American crew members were supposed to replace.
A NASA publication stated that the station's antenna had broken down and could no longer transmit signals to Earth via NASA's satellite array.
"Although the deterioration in antenna activity has only a small effect on the space station, which can still transmit on two low-band and high-band transmission systems in which video transmissions are transmitted, it was decided to replace the antenna to allow excess communication to the space station," NASA said in a statement. .
A tour of the space station
The astronaut crew's space walk had to last six and a half hours and this is the 245th walk in the routine maintenance operations of the International Space Station and the 13th walk in the regular activity this year.
NASA noted that "the postponement does not interfere with the astronauts' activities and work routine and the schedule can be arranged so that it will be carried out at a later time when crew safety is ensured."
This is not the first time in recent times that space debris is threatening the International Space Station crew.
On November 14, station personnel were forced to enter a protected room following 150 pieces of space debris generated while Russia conducted a satellite missile test.
It is interesting to note that NASA has not yet said whether the latest decision is also related to the same cloud of debris that angered Americans earlier this month.
Either way, the two American astronauts who arrived at the station on November 11 in the SpaceX space capsule will stay and conduct research on the space station for six months.
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