Spacewalk to Deploy Radiator on International Space Station

Sunday - May 14 2023, 07:26 UTC - 1 year ago

Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin completed their sixth and fourth spacewalks on May 12, respectively, to successfully deploy a ‘smart’ radiator system on the International Space Station's Nauka module, in the 263rd spacewalk for space station assembly, maintenance, and upgrades.

Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin concluded their spacewalk on May 12 at 5:01 p.m. EDT (2:01 p.m. PDT) after 5 hours and 14 minutes. They began their spacewalk to deploy a radiator on the International Space Station’s Nauka science module at 11:47 a.m. EDT.

Prokopyev and Petelin completed their major objectives, which included deploying a radiator on the International Space Station’s Nauka science module, connecting electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic lines, and filling a pair of cooling loops with coolant. Prokopyev was wearing an Orlan spacesuit with red stripes, while Petelin was wearing a suit with blue stripes.

This was the sixth spacewalk in Prokopyev’s career, and the fourth for Petelin. It was the sixth spacewalk at the station in 2023 and the 263rd spacewalk for space station assembly, maintenance, and upgrades. This spacewalk is significant for the maintenance of the International Space Station. As the station expands, more spacewalks are needed to ensure that it remains operational.

The Radiative Heating Unit (RHU) was successfully installed on the Nauka module of the International Space Station. The RHU is a ‘smart’ radiator system designed to maintain the station at the correct temperature while making sure that the ISS's internal air-quality standards remain at a suitable level. The RHU was attached to the module surface with four special clamps that allowed the system to rotate and adjust its orientation by itself. This radiator system had to be first tested in space and ensuring its proper placement is an important step in the maintenance of the ISS.

Moreover, Prokopyev and Petelin connected several electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic lines to the RHU, making sure that the radiator system is receiving its power from the station’s internal power systems. They also filled the radiator's two cooling loops with the necessary coolants to ensure its proper functioning. This process also required the cosmonauts to temporarily shut off some of the station’s power systems.

Spacewalks are an incredibly important part of the mission of the International Space Station, as it ensures that the station remains functional and operational. The successful completion of the spacewalk adds to the list of successful spacewalks conducted in the history of space exploration, and is a testament to the importance of the mission.