NASA Plans Emergency Spacewalk To Replace Key Computer On International Space Station

A pair of astronauts will venture outside the International Space Station on Tuesday for an emergency spacewalk to replace a failed computer, one of two that control major U.S. systems aboard the orbiting outpost, NASA said on Sunday. The primary device failed on Saturday, leaving the $100 billion orbiting laboratory to depend on a backup system to route commands to its solar power system, radiators, cooling loops and other equipment. The station’s current five-member crew from the United States, Russia and France were never in any danger, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said in a statement. The Expedition 51 crew was informed of the apparent failure of a data relay box and is not in any danger. https://t.co/HC9tuNTGRq pic.twitter.com/b0RcjgX8ib— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) May 21, 2017 Station commander Peggy Whitson and flight engineer Jack Fischer, both with NASA, will partner for the spacewalk, which is expected to last two hours, the U.S. space agency said. Earlier on Sunday, Whitson assembled and tested a spare electronics box to replace the failed device, which had been installed during a spacewalk on March 30, said NASA spokesman Dan Huot. Station managers are go for Tuesday spacewalk with @AstroPeggy & @Astro2fish to change out failed data relay box. https://t.co/TCV2rcvf3C pic.twitter.com/OCep5L0ux7— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) May 21, 2017 NASA’s last emergency spacewalk took place in Decem...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - Category: Science Source Type: news