Anil Menon, Sophie Adenot Remove Failed ISS Antenna After 6-Hour Spacewalk
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NASA astronaut Anil Menon and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot successfully removed a malfunctioning communications antenna from the International Space Station (ISS) during a 6-hour-and-23-minute spacewalk on Tuesday. However, technical difficulties during the operation meant the astronauts could not install the replacement antenna.
The spacewalk focused on the station's Z1 truss, where the astronauts were assigned to remove a failed Space-to-Ground Antenna (SGANT) and replace it with a new unit.
Menon Completes Second Spacewalk
The spacewalk, designated US Spacewalk 97, began at 8:29 am EDT after Menon and Adenot switched their spacesuits to battery power.
The excursion lasted 6 hours and 23 minutes. It was Menon's second spacewalk, taking his cumulative time working outside the ISS to 12 hours and 50 minutes.
The astronauts successfully completed the removal of the faulty antenna, but the task took longer than expected. They encountered difficulties while disconnecting electrical cables and loosening bolts on the antenna's gimbal assembly.
Replacement Installation Delayed
The additional time needed to remove the failed hardware left the astronauts without enough working time to install the replacement unit.
As their available working time ran short, mission controllers instructed Menon and Adenot to return to the airlock in accordance with standard safety procedures.
NASA said the ISS remains fully operational despite the incomplete task.
The station has two SGANT systems, allowing the remaining antenna to continue supporting high-data-rate communications between the ISS and ground stations.
Milestone for Sophie Adenot
The spacewalk marked a major milestone for Adenot, who became the first French woman to conduct a spacewalk.
She is also the fifth French citizen to perform an extravehicular activity, adding another milestone to her career as an ESA astronaut.
Menon, meanwhile, continued to build his experience in ISS maintenance and operations through the mission.
Follow-Up Spacewalk Planned
Mission planners are now assessing when the replacement antenna can be installed.
A follow-up spacewalk is tentatively scheduled for August 25, although NASA is still deciding whether the antenna installation will be included in that mission or postponed to a later date.
The successful removal of the failed antenna has completed the first major part of the maintenance task, while the replacement installation remains pending.
