INNOVATION

Watch live: Another ISS space walk from Expedition 41

15 Oct 2014

Astronauts Reid Wiseman and Alexander Gerst pose with two extra-vehicular mobility unit spacesuits in the Quest airlock of the International Space Station. Image via NASA/JSC

The second International Space Station (ISS) space walk this month takes place today – watch it live right here.

On 7 October, NASA flight engineer Reid Wiseman completed his first-ever space walk alongside European Space Agency (ESA) flight engineer Alexander Gerst, who was also new to the experience.

Wiseman’s second chance to step outside ISS didn’t leave him waiting long, though, as he will re-emerge with fellow NASA flight engineer Barry Wilmore today at 12.20pm UTC (1.20pm in Ireland).

This will be the 183rd space walk in support of ISS assembly and maintenance and Wiseman and Wilmore are tasked with removing and replacing a power regulator known as a sequential shunt unit, which failed in mid-May. Though the ISS has continued to operate normally on seven of its eight power channels since then, this operation is considered high priority.

The two-man team will also move external camera equipment, configuring the station for new international docking adapters to accommodate future commercial crew vehicles.

In all, their mission will take six-and-a-half hours to complete.

This time, Gerst will help his crewmates suit up and co-ordinate space walk activities from inside the station. His Twitter account is sure to keep viewers abreast of the goings-on, as both he and Wiseman tweeted many spectacular images of last week’s extra-vehicular experience, including a space walk selfie and the first-ever real-time Vine of a space walk.

 

Don’t miss our Innovation Ireland Forum on 24 October in the Guinness Storehouse, Dublin

Elaine Burke is the host of For Tech’s Sake, a co-production from Silicon Republic and The HeadStuff Podcast Network. She was previously the editor of Silicon Republic.

editorial@siliconrepublic.com