NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli (top) and Loral O’Hara (bottom) team up during their first spacewalk for maintenance on the outside of the space station. Credit: NASA TV
NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara concluded their spacewalk today at 2:47 p.m. EST after 6 hours and 42 minutes. Their spacewalk began at 8:05 a.m. Moghbeli, designated extravehicular crew member 1 (EV1), was wearing a suit with red stripes. O’Hara, designated extravehicular crew member 2 (EV 2), was in an unmarked suit.
Moghbeli and O’Hara were able to complete one of the spacewalk’s two major objectives, replacing one of the 12 trundle bearing assemblies on the port solar alpha rotary joint, which allows the arrays to track the Sun and generate electricity to power the station. Mission Control told the station crew that the solar array was functioning well after the bearing replacement. Spacewalkers also removed a handling bar fixture to prepare for future installation of a roll-out solar array and properly configured a cable that was previously interfering with an external camera.
Deferred Tasks and Tool Bag Incident
The astronauts had planned to remove and stow a communications electronics box called the Radio Frequency Group, but there was not enough time during the spacewalk to complete the work. The duo lifted some multilayer insulation to make a better assessment of how to approach the job before replacing the insulation and deferring the task to a future spacewalk.
(From left) Astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O’Hara are pictured trying on their spacesuits and testing their suits’ components aboard the space station. Credit: NASA
During the activity, one tool bag was inadvertently lost. Flight controllers spotted the tool bag using external station cameras. The tools were not needed for the remainder of the spacewalk. Mission Control analyzed the bag’s trajectory and determined that risk of recontacting the station is low and that the onboard crew and space station are safe with no action required.
Upcoming Missions and Resupply Launch
Moghbeli and O’Hara are in the midst of a science mission living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration missions, including lunar missions through NASA’s Artemis program.
NASA and SpaceX are now targeting 9:16 p.m. EST on Tuesday, November 7, for the launch of the company’s 29th commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station. The additional time allows for completion of final prelaunch processing ahead of liftoff of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and cargo Dragon spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
NASA Television coverage of launch will begin at 8:45 p.m. The spacecraft, which is carrying approximately 6,500 pounds of supplies, research, and hardware will arrive at the space station shortly before 12 p.m. Thursday, November 9, with coverage beginning at 10:15 a.m.
Must have been a 10mm socket in that bag.
Well that will cost at least $3,000,000.00
The way NASA spends money
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME A TOOL BAG HAS BEEN LOST IN SPACE. HAVE THEY EVER HEARD OF A TETHER, AND NO PEOPLE.I’M NOT YELLING OR MAD. I ALWAY’S TEXT IN CAP’S. 👍
Yes, it is not the first time. However, one would think that procedures would have been developed to prevent such mishaps.
I just hate to loose even one single tool
It seems so careless Michael in Galway Ireland
Wasn’t it two females who let a tool bag get away both times? If so, maybe extra precautions should be taken in certain cases. I love, admire and respect ladies, but,…
Silly comments about loosing an untethered tool bag. Put on 4 pairs of gloves and work on your car and report back how well you did.
No action required for all the other space junk until there is action required!
What if the bag had keys for re entry
With their courageous spacewalk which was concluded victoriously, the two astronaut ladies, Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral Ohara proved that ladies also have the heart to display risky and exciting actions.
Sure, who knew that these highly college educated ladies were also experienced A&P mechanics. Just a Bribem Administration PR show for birthing women and feminists.
Privatize space travel and maintenance. They would be far less likely to lose s***
What if there was a frozen chicken in the bag for dinner?What if there was a bag inside the bag that had a bag inside it? What we do know is that you should always tether your tools to you in Space. Don’t care if male or female.
I just set my bag “down” here a moment ago. Where could it have gone?
Ran overtime, unfinished, lost tools…Diversity in Space!
Anyone calculated the kinetic energy of that toolbag will release once it makes contact with anyone/any
Did NASA select those two to do that job because of their sex?
The moronic comments on this article are the reason many sites have turned off commenting altogether.
LESSON LEARNED: There is no place in space for affirmative action!
Stop the negatives,you would have LOST your UNDERWEAR the minute the shuttle left the ground,,good job LADY-NUTS,,THANKS FOR your time and bravery,be safe GOD BLESS,,
I’m proud of these women astronauts; after all this was their first space walk: not just a walk in the park.
I would be very surprised and shocked if NASA ever rewarded their negligence with a plum position such as a spot on any upcoming lunar mission. Remember Scott Carpenter? (No, I’m not calling him negligent, but you know the story.)
I actually thought they had magnets in the bag to allow it to stay in place. Even if it was tethered, it could still travel and be a problem. Anyway, good job ladies. You did good.