Spacewalking astronauts closing in on closing battery swaps

Spacewalking astronauts closing in on closing battery swaps

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Marcia Dunn, Ap Aerospace Author

Updated

  • In this image taken from NASA video, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy works outside the International Space Station on Thursday, July 16, 2020. Cassidy and Bob Behnken ventured out on their third spacewalk over the past few weeks to remove six more old batteries in the space station’s power grid, and replace them with new, improved ones. (NASA via AP) Photo: AP / NASA

    In this image taken from NASA video, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy works outdoors the World Condo Advise on Thursday, July 16, 2020. Cassidy and Bob Behnken ventured out on their third spacewalk correct during the previous couple of weeks to rob away six more extinct batteries in the location region’s energy grid, and change them with fresh, improved ones. (NASA by the usage of AP) much less

    In this image taken from NASA video, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy works outdoors the World Condo Advise on Thursday, July 16, 2020. Cassidy and Bob Behnken ventured out on their third spacewalk over … more

    Picture: AP

In this image taken from NASA video, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy works outdoors the World Condo Advise on Thursday, July 16, 2020. Cassidy and Bob Behnken ventured out on their third spacewalk correct during the previous couple of weeks to rob away six more extinct batteries in the location region’s energy grid, and change them with fresh, improved ones. (NASA by the usage of AP) much less

In this image taken from NASA video, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy works outdoors the World Condo Advise on Thursday, July 16, 2020. Cassidy and Bob Behnken ventured out on their third spacewalk over … more

Picture: AP

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A pair of spacewalking astronauts tackled the closing place of battery swaps outdoors the World Condo Advise on Thursday.

NASA’s Bob Behnken and Chris Cassidy ventured out on their third spacewalk correct during the previous couple of weeks. They needed to rob away six more extinct batteries in the location region’s energy grid, and change them with fresh, improved ones.

“Maintain fun accessible,” astronaut Doug Hurley entreated from interior.

The fresh lithium-ion batteries — mammoth, boxy items with a mass of spherical 400 pounds (180 kilograms ) — are so extremely efficient that most attention-grabbing half as many are needed. The batteries retailer energy gathered by the region’s solar panels for exhaust on the nighttime facet of Earth.

The battery replacements started 3 1/2 years in the past, with 48 extinct batteries centered for alternative. Behnken and Cassidy will habits a fourth and closing spacewalk subsequent week to total the job.

Behnken arrived on the location region on the tip of Could perhaps moreover on a SpaceX capsule, the firm’s first astronaut flight. He and Hurley are scheduled to return to Earth in the Dragon capsule in early August.

Cassidy is serving because the location region commander. He’s midway through a six-month mission; a Russian Soyuz capsule is his breeze to and from the orbiting outpost.

Each and every Behnken and Cassidy each and every now contain nine spacewalks to their credit score.

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The Linked Press Nicely being and Science Department receives give a enhance to from the Howard Hughes Clinical Institute’s Department of Science Training. The AP is totally to blame for all whisper.

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