Thomas Pesquet and Shane Kimbrough on first Alpha spacewalk

ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet and NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough performed three spacewalks in the span of 10 days to install two new solar arrays that will generate more electricity on the International Space Station.

On the first spacewalk on 16 June, Shane and Thomas collected the solar arrays, released them from their carrier and moved them to the installation site on the port side of the Station.

A small technical problem in Shane’s spacesuit required him to return to the airlock and restart his Display and Control Module. This module provides astronauts with continuous information on pressure, temperature and other vital data during a spacewalk. Though the restart was successful and Shane was in no danger, the extra steps delayed the duo’s work, preventing them from completing installation of the first new solar array as planned. The spacewalk ended after 7 hours and 15 minutes.

Mission planners quickly adjusted the planning for the Space Station and on 20 June Shane and Thomas were helped into their spacesuits again for their fourth spacewalk together. This time it was to complete installation of the first new solar array and get ahead on the second.