NASA's Jessica Meir Leads 6-Hour Spacewalk
Astronauts replace key equipment on ISS, overcoming a surprise shoulder issue and torqueing 46 bolts to prep a $2 billion experiment
Two astronauts, NASA's Jessica Meir and ESA's Sophie Adenot, conducted the sixth all-female spacewalk in history, lasting six hours and 49 minutes, to replace a retroreflector and a high-definition camera on the International Space Station.
The spacewalk, which began at 8:40 a.m. EDT (1240 GMT) from the U.S. Quest airlock, was part of a maintenance operation to support spacecraft navigation during rendezvous and docking operations. The astronauts replaced a retroreflector on the forward port of the space station's Harmony module and a high-definition camera on the station's truss.
During the spacewalk, Sophie Adenot experienced a mobility issue in her left shoulder joint. Despite this, the astronauts were able to complete most of the tasks set out for them. The spacewalk was the third for Sophie Adenot and the seventh for Jessica Meir, who has been part of three of the previous five all-female ISS spacewalks.
The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, a $2 billion particle physics experiment mounted to the exterior of the ISS, was also involved in the spacewalk. Jessica Meir torqued 46 bolts in preparation for future maintenance of the particle physics detector.
## What it means The successful completion of the spacewalk is a significant milestone for the International Space Station and for the astronauts involved. The replacement of the retroreflector and the high-definition camera will help to support spacecraft navigation and communication during future missions. The spacewalk also highlights the importance of maintenance and upkeep of the ISS, which is a critical component of space exploration and research.
## Why it matters The all-female spacewalk is a rare and significant event in the history of space exploration. It highlights the growing role of women in space research and exploration, and demonstrates the importance of diversity and inclusion in the field. The success of the spacewalk is a testament to the skills and abilities of the astronauts involved, and serves as an inspiration to future generations of women and girls interested in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
