A NASA spacewalk was prematurely ended today after a water leak was detected in astronaut Tracy Dyson’s spacesuit. The leak, which occurred shortly after the hatch of the International Space Station (ISS) was opened, led to the spacewalk being terminated after only 31 minutes. Both astronauts, Dyson and Mike Barratt, are safe and back inside the ISS, but the incident highlights the potential risks of spacewalks and the importance of suit maintenance.
Today, June 24, India witnesses a flurry of significant events across various sectors including business, politics, law, sports, and space. Key highlights include Adani Ports’ entry into the Sensex, IPOs from Sylvan Plyboard and Shivalic Power Control, the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, and protests against the NEET exam row. Meanwhile, astronauts will conduct spacewalks outside the International Space Station, and the OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite launches in India.
NASA’s first planned spacewalk of 2024 was abruptly canceled on Thursday, approximately an hour before its scheduled initiation at the International Space Station. The space agency cited a ‘spacesuit discomfort issue’ as the reason for the postponement, without elaborating on whether the problem affected one or both astronauts, Tracy C. Dyson and Matthew Dominick. The spacesuits utilized for spacewalks are known for their bulky nature, and an improper fit can pose a significant challenge during extended periods of time. Despite the unusual nature of such a cancellation, NASA emphasized that the crew and spacesuits remain in good condition. The next scheduled spacewalks are set for Monday, June 24, and Tuesday, July 2, with the astronaut assignments yet to be determined. The planned research, involving the swabbing of exterior surfaces to assess the survival of microorganisms released from the station’s vents, will be conducted during the Monday spacewalk, albeit slightly delayed.
NASA astronauts Tracy C. Dyson and Matt Dominick will conduct a spacewalk on Thursday, June 13, with the primary objective of collecting samples from the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS) to determine the presence and resilience of microorganisms. The spacewalk, designated as U.S. spacewalk 90, will be the fourth for Dyson and the first for Dominick. Viewers can follow the live stream of the spacewalk on NASA’s website, YouTube channel, and other official platforms starting at 6:30 a.m. ET, with the spacewalk itself scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. ET. The spacewalk is expected to last approximately six and a half hours.
Today marks the anniversary of several significant historical events, including the first American astronaut to walk in space, the crash of Air France Flight 007, and the terrorist attack on London Bridge. Here is a brief overview of these notable occurrences:
