The International Space Station (ISS) is set to host its third and final spacewalk of 2024 on Thursday, December 19. This significant event will see Expedition 72 crewmates Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner donning their spacesuits and venturing outside the station. NASA's website provides detailed information about their mission, which includes installing an experiment package to monitor celestial x-ray sources and new electrical connector patch panels. Additionally, they will remove several experiments in preparation for disposal. This will be the second spacewalk for Ovchinin and the first for Vagner. To ensure identification, Ovchinin's spacesuit will feature red stripes, while Vagner's will have blue stripes. This spacewalk marks the 272nd in support of space station assembly, maintenance, and upgrades.

Key Highlights of the Spacewalk

During this crucial spacewalk, the two Russian cosmonauts will not only focus on the installation and removal tasks but also relocate a control panel for the European robotic arm attached to the Nauka multipurpose laboratory module. Alexsandr Gorbunov, a third Roscosmos cosmonaut, will operate the arm from inside the station. This coordinated effort showcases the seamless teamwork and collaboration among the crew members.The spacewalk comes at a time when the ISS has experienced a relatively quiet year in terms of spacewalk activities. From 2021 to 2023, at least 12 spacewalks took place each year. However, in June, NASA suspended its spacewalk program due to a water leak from the service and cooling umbilical unit on a spacesuit worn by NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson shortly after the station's hatch was opened. During the suspension, engineers worked diligently to investigate the issue and create a fix. This involved replacing a seal and the umbilical connection connecting the spacesuit to the ISS. The compromised suit was successfully repressurized, and additional testing was carried out to ensure the suit's design was reliable and safe.Interestingly, Russian cosmonauts use different spacesuits, and the Roscosmos space agency also halted its spacewalk program at the same time. This was likely a precautionary measure to give officials and cosmonauts an opportunity to thoroughly check all of their spacewalk equipment.

Watching the Spacewalk

NASA will provide live coverage of the two Roscosmos cosmonauts conducting their spacewalk outside the ISS on Thursday, December 19. The live coverage will start at 9:45 a.m. ET and can be watched on NASA+. The spacewalk itself is expected to begin at about 10:10 a.m. ET and is anticipated to last around six and a half hours. This provides an excellent opportunity for space enthusiasts and the general public to witness this remarkable feat of human exploration.The ISS's final 2024 spacewalk is not just a technical mission but also a significant milestone in the history of space exploration. It showcases the capabilities and expertise of the crew members and the importance of continuous maintenance and upgrades to the space station. As we watch these cosmonauts venture outside the ISS, we are reminded of the boundless possibilities and challenges of space exploration.