Thomas Pesquet back in the ISS after his new spacewalk
NASA TV screenshot captured on June 20, 2021 shows US astronaut Shane Kimbrough seen through the camera of ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet's helmet during deployment and panel alignment solar.
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3 min
French astronaut Thomas Pesquet returned safely to the interior of the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday, June 20 after another spacewalk of more than six hours, devoted to the installation of new solar panels on the ISS.
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This is Thomas Pesquet's fourth spacewalk, and the second on this mission, conducted with his American teammate Shane Kimbrough.
At 11:42 UTC, the two men, who arrived on board the station at the end of April, activated the internal battery of their suit, then opened the hatch of the ISS decompression chamber.
Thomas Pesquet went out into the void first, followed by his teammate.
During 6:28, the astronauts finished positioning, fixing, connecting and deploying a first new generation solar panel, 19 meters long, and started installing a second.
Called iROSA, these solar panels are believed to boost the ISS's power generation capabilities and were delivered by a SpaceX freighter.
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Also to listen:
Extra-vehicular outing of Pesquet and Kimbrough: "In 6.30am, they have 90 tasks to accomplish"
Enjoying the Earth views?
As the @Space_Station flies over the Pacific, @Thom_Astro & @Astro_Kimbrough continue preparations for a second solar array installation on a future spacewalk.
pic.twitter.com/hzgW1UuivZ
- NASA (@NASA) June 20, 2021
An "
incredible day
"
“
Today's spacewalk by Shane Kimbrough and Thomas Pesquet officially ended at 2:10
pm UT” (6:10 pm UT), NASA reported.
The two "mechanics" had started installing the first solar panel on
Wednesday
.
But the mission had been troubled by several setbacks, including concerns about Shane Kimbrough's suit.
"
We will return to the vacuum of space to finish the work of the first exit (deployment of the 1st solar panel) and to install the second
", had detailed Thomas Pesquet on social networks Sunday morning, rejoicing at the prospect of 'an "
incredible day
".
NASA is planning a new spacewalk on June 25 for the duo to complete the installation of the second solar panel.
Thomas Pesquet now counts 26 hours and 15 minutes spent in spacewalk.
This is the fourth time that the two astronauts have floated together in zero gravity, clinging to the Space Station spinning 400 kilometers above the Earth, after having already carried out two spacewalks side by side in 2017, and one on Wednesday. .
This is the 240th spacewalk in the history of the ISS.
(With
AFP
)
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