On November 1, NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral O'Hara accomplished a spacewalk of nearly seven hours outside the International Space Station (ISS). Their primary objective was to replace one of the twelve Trundle Bearing Assemblies on the port truss Solar Alpha Rotary Joint. These critical components are responsible for ensuring the station's solar arrays accurately track the Sun's movement, generating essential electricity as the station orbits Earth.
During the spacewalk, the astronauts had planned to remove a malfunctioning electronics box, known as a Radio Frequency Group, from a communications antenna bracket. However, they ran out of time and had to defer this task to a future spacewalk. Additionally, an unintended loss of one tool bag occurred during the operation, with NASA assessing a minimal risk of it recontacting the station.
This spacewalk was the first for both astronauts and the 12th at the space station in 2023. Notably, it marked the second time in history that a female duo, Moghbeli and O'Hara, conducted a spacewalk together. Moghbeli served as extravehicular activity (EVA) crew member 1, identifiable by her suit with red stripes, while O’Hara served as extravehicular crew member 2 in an unmarked suit.
Originally scheduled for October 20, their EVA was postponed due to an ammonia coolant leak detected on a backup radiator of Russia's Nauka module on October 9. The spacewalk was broadcast live on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website, offering viewers an exciting glimpse into their remarkable mission.