NASA Resuming Spacewalks: Progress after Spacesuit Leak
Following a months-long hiatus, NASA is ready to step outside the International Space Station (ISS) once again to conduct necessary spacewalks. Here’s what you need to know about their plans and the ongoing issues with spacesuits.
The Plan to Resume Spacewalks
NASA has announced plans to resume spacewalks in early 2025, according to Bill Spetch, the operations and integration manager of NASA’s ISS program. Speaking at a recent press conference, Spetch emphasized that security protocols have been extensively revised, including the replacement of a seal and umbilical cord connecting the spacesuit to the ISS. The leaky spacesuit was successfully repressurized, ensuring safety for the imminent spacewalks. Although a specific date is not yet set, the agency is working towards early next year.
History of Spacesuit Leaks and Accidents
For several decades, NASA’s extravehicular mobility units (EMUs), which are designed for spacewalks, have encountered persistent water leaks. These incidents are potentially life-threatening, as astronauts could be at risk of drowning in their own helmets. For instance:
- June 2022: A water leak in astronaut Tracy Dyson’s service and cooling umbilical unit led to a canceled spacewalk.
- May 2022: Several life-threatening water leaks were reported during spacewalks, prompting NASA to suspend activities.
- 2013: ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano encountered a water leak that forced him to end a spacewalk, leading to his visor being almost completely covered in water.
- 2015: NASA astronaut Terry Virts also experienced a water leak while wearing the same suit used by Parmitano.
Aging Spacesuits and New Solutions
The spacesuits currently in use by NASA are more than 40 years old, originating from the era of the space shuttle program. The suits are facing the end of their service life, which underscores the need for new technology. In response, NASA has turned to commercial partners:
- Axiom Space and Collins Aerospace received contracts worth a combined value of $3.5 billion in June 2022 to develop new spacesuits. Axiom Space has already unveiled their new suits, which are set to fly to the ISS for trial runs before the Artemis missions to the Moon.
The Path Forward
While the new spacesuits are being developed, astronauts will continue to use the outdated suits for spacewalks, with a focus on temporary fixes to ensure safety. The emerging technological solutions aim to solve the long-standing issues with water leaks, ensuring more reliable and safe spacewalks in the future.
Stay tuned for updates on NASA’s progress and the debut of new spacesuits!
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