NASA astronaut Anil Menon and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Sophie Adenot completed an extravehicular activity outside the International Space Station on Tuesday. They successfully installed and connected a backup antenna for communication between space and Earth.
During the six and a half hours of the spacewalk, Menon and Adenot worked on installing the antenna. This antenna is a vital component that ensures high-speed data transmission between the NASA Mission Control Center in Houston (USA) and the orbital complex, according to NASA.
Afterward, they secured the failed antenna, which had been removed and temporarily stowed during the August 18 spacewalk, onto a spare parts platform on the station's truss structure.
NASA reported that initial checks of the newly installed antenna showed good levels of data transmission and power. Flight controllers on the ground will continue testing the antenna overnight to ensure its full functionality.
This spacewalk was Menon's third and Adenot's second. Furthermore, it marked the 283rd spacewalk as part of the assembly, maintenance, and modernization work on the space station.