NASA: Intensive preparations for spacewalk with Canadarm on Mission 74

Preparations for a spacewalk to repair the Canadarm2 robotic arm were a key focus for the Expedition 74 crew aboard the International Space Station on Wednesday. The spacewalk is necessary to replace a wrist joint on the robotic arm that experienced an increased current during recent operations, preventing expected movement.

NASA, in collaboration with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), determined the repair was needed. The Canadarm2 system is currently in a safe configuration, and its operations have been temporarily suspended. The replacement part is already on the station.

Beyond the spacewalk preparations, the crew engaged in various scientific activities. Flight engineer Jack Hathaway installed a small satellite deployer filled with CubeSats in the Kibo module's airlock. These CubeSats, some testing radio frequency, propulsion, and solar collector technologies, will be released into Earth orbit.

NASA astronaut Jessica Meir worked on biological experiments, installing a small freezer in the Life Science Glovebox to ensure immediate cooling of samples. She also assisted ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot with biomedical tests, measuring blood pressure, oxygen levels, and blood flow to the brain during cognitive exercises. These tests aim to explore technology for monitoring crew health on lunar and Martian missions.

Additionally, Meir helped NASA flight engineer Chris Williams load cargo onto the SpaceX Dragon for its upcoming return to Earth. Williams also inspected a spacesuit in the Quest airlock, performing checks and adjustments for the planned spacewalk. Russian cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev conducted physics experiments in the Zvezda module, observing the free movement of spheres in microgravity.