In a remarkable display of human ingenuity and endurance, two Russian cosmonauts recently completed an extensive spacewalk, their second joint mission, to install groundbreaking new experiments and carry out essential maintenance on the International Space Station (ISS). Roscosmos flight engineers Sergey Ryzhikov, the 73 Soyuz commander, and Alexey Zubritsky spent an impressive six hours and fifty-four minutes outside the orbital outpost. This demanding extravehicular activity (EVA) saw them pick up where they left off just weeks prior, focusing on the lower section of the station’s Russian Orbital Segment.
Pioneering Plasma Experiments and Vital Equipment Service on ISS
The spacewalk commenced precisely at 10:18 a.m. EDT, as Ryzhikov and Zubritsky expertly opened the hatch of the Poisk Mini-Research Module-2. Utilizing the versatile Strela telescoping crane, they navigated to their primary worksite on the Nauka module. Here, they meticulously installed a sophisticated two-part apparatus designed for the Impuls and IPI-500 plasma experiments. These crucial studies are set to deepen our understanding of how spacecraft engines interact with Earth’s ionosphere and explore the promising potential of jet propulsion technologies in the vastness of space.
During their mission, Ryzhikov also undertook a vital cleaning task, carefully operating and sealing the protective shutters of a viewing window on the Nauka module. Following this, the duo turned their attention to the Ekran-M experiment, which they had previously installed. This ongoing research focuses on developing ultra-thin materials for semiconductor applications. After expertly replacing a loose gasket and inserting a new cassette, ground control confirmed that the Ekran-M experiment was once again transmitting high-quality data, a testament to the cosmonauts’ skilled work.
The astronauts concluded Expedition 73’s third spacewalk after successfully relocating the ERA control panel and taking precautions to avoid debris before the arrival of the HTV-X cargo spacecraft. This EVA marked Ryzhikov’s third and Zubritsky’s second spacewalk, accumulating a total of 20 and 13 hours, respectively, in the vacuum of space. Their dedicated efforts continue to bolster the ISS’s long-standing tradition of human-led maintenance and scientific advancement.