MXAstronauts Jessica Meir of NASA and Sophie Adenot of the European Space Agency (ESA) began a spacewalk at the International Space Station (ISS) to replace a reflector used for guiding spacecraft docking and prepare a cosmic particle detector. The walk started around 08:40 EST (12:40 GMT) and is expected to last over six hours. The reflector is located on the front port of the Harmony module and serves as a reference point for spacecraft during approach and docking. In addition to replacing the reflector, the astronauts will install data transmission cables and replace a high-definition camera on the orbital laboratory. They will also prepare the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, a cosmic particle detector launched in 2011, for future upgrades. This marks Meir’s seventh spacewalk, making her the third most experienced NASA astronaut in terms of extravehicular activities, behind Peggy Whitson and Suni Williams. It is the 284th spacewalk conducted to support ISS assembly, maintenance, and improvements, and the 99th performed by U.S. astronauts.
Bias read (Center): The article covers a scientific activity involving space exploration and technical upgrades to the International Space Station. There is no political framing, controversy, or ideological emphasis present in the content. The focus is purely on the technical aspects of the spacewalk and its purpose.
