'Spacesuit Discomfort': NASA Calls Off ISS Spacewalk By Astronauts, Announces Next Date

ISS spacewalk: A planned spacewalk on June 13th by NASA astronauts Tracy C. Dyson and Matt Dominick was postponed due to a spacesuit discomfort issue, the space agency said.

Two NASA astronauts were set to take a six-hour trek outside the ISS for routine maintenance and scientific research. ( Image Source :X/@NASA )

ISS Spacewalk: A spacewalk by NASA astronauts Tracy C. Dyson and Matt Dominick, scheduled for June 13, was unexpectedly cancelled Wednesday evening due to a reported issue with spacesuit comfort. The spacewalk, scheduled for around 8:30 am EDT (6 pm IST), was called off just an hour before it was set to begin.

NASA said in an initial statement on its blog: "The spacewalk today, June 13, at the International Space Station (ISS) did not proceed as scheduled due to a spacesuit discomfort issue."

The space agency did not provide further specifics regarding the nature of the discomfort or which astronaut experienced the issue.

NASA said astronauts Tracy C. Dyson and Matt Dominick started the process of taking off their spacesuits after the decision was made to cancel the spacewalk around "an hour before the crew was anticipated to exit the Quest airlock". 

In an update later, NASA said the next spacewalk will take place on Monday, June 24.

Due to a spacesuit discomfort issue, today's spacewalk with @NASA_Astronauts Tracy C. Dyson and Matt Dominick at the @Space_Station will not be proceeding as scheduled. Visit our blog for updates as they become available: https://t.co/FRrjhINIvY pic.twitter.com/PyS2Q3JTgw

— NASA (@NASA) June 13, 2024

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NASA Gives Dates For Next Two Spacewalks  

As shown on a live stream by NASA, Dyson and Dominick, two of the ISS's six US astronauts, were set to take a six-hour trek outside the orbiting space laboratory for routine maintenance and scientific research.

According to NASA's earlier announcement, the two were tasked with removing outdated communications equipment from one of the station’s laboratory modules, a procedure that was to be supported by the ISS's robotic arm.

Additionally, the astronauts were slated to perform an intriguing experiment involving the swabbing of various surfaces on the ISS's exterior. 

The next space walk will now take place on June 24, and another one is scheduled on Tuesday, July 2, NASA said. 

"With consideration to NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test and other spaceflight operations, the next spacewalk will be Monday, June 24, followed by another on Tuesday, July 2, as was previously planned," said the agency in an update on its space station blog. 

The June 24 spacewalk, it said, "will focus on radio frequency group hardware removal". 

The content of the July 2 spacewalk is not finalised yet. 

NASA assured that the crew members are in good health, and their "spacesuits are functioning as expected".