Screenshot taken on March 15, 2022 shows NASA astronaut Kayla Barron working to ready the International Space Station for a third set of roll-out solar arrays. (Credit: NASA TV)
NASA astronauts Barron and Chari completed their spacewalk to prepare the International Space Station for upcoming solar array upgrades by assembling and installing modification kits.
WASHINGTON, March 15 (Xinhua) -- NASA astronauts Kayla Barron and Raja Chari had a seven-hour-long spacewalk Tuesday in preparation for upcoming solar array installation.
Barron and Chari completed their spacewalk to prepare the International Space Station (ISS) for upcoming solar array upgrades by assembling and installing modification kits, said NASA.
They built a support bracket onto which a future ISS roll out solar array (iROSA) will be mounted.
So far, two of six iROSAs have been deployed on the station with four additional arrays to be delivered. The arrays will ultimately augment six of the space station's eight power channels, increasing the station's total available power from 160 kilowatts to up to 215 kilowatts, said NASA.
It was the 247th spacewalk in support of space station assembly, upgrades and maintenance, according to NASA.
Chari and Barron are in the midst of a planned six-month science mission living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration missions, according to NASA. ■