ISS-11 spacewalk
Expedition 11 were initially assigned to undertake two spacewalks, one using NASA EMU spacesuits, the other wearing Russian Orlan-M spacesuits. As things turned out, the schedule proved rather too ambitious, so the NASA spacewalk was postponed until the next Expedition Crew’s stay. The Russian spacewalk took place on 18 August.
Sergei wore Orlan-M №0520025, with BRTA, БРТА radio telemetry unit #13 installed. John wore №0240027 with BRTA #12. The spacesuits were fitted with U.S. EMU helmet lights. Both Sergei and John wore Russian flag patches and their suits had red stripes (there was one other suit with blue stripes), so it was hard to distinguish them! John apparently felt that he should wear a Russian flag as it was a Russian spacesuit.
Sergei was designated EV1; John was EV2. This was Sergei’s eighth spacewalk and John’s first one.
The duration of the VKD was 4 hours 58 minutes. Depressurization was at 18:46 UTC, egress from the Pirs airlock (Hatch VL-1 of 2) at 19:02 and ingress at 00:00 UTC.
VKD-14 objectives were:
- Removal of panel #3 of the Japanese/JAXA MPAC & SEED experiment on the exterior of Zvezda;
- removal of the Russian “Matryoshka” radiation measurement “human torso” from Zvezda’s hull and transfer to the Pirs DC-1 EVA hatch;
- removal of the SKK-3 replaceable cassette container on the SM cylindrical section (AO) for return to the ground;
- installation of the new SKK-5 sample plate in place of SKK-3;
- relocation of the deployed SKK-4 materials sample plate on its handrail at the SM AO end cone;
- removal of the MSN “Biorisk” experiment #1 from its location on theDC-1 for return to Earth;
- installation of an additional TV camera at the SM aft end to assist in ATM proximity operations.
One task was deferred: the removal of a Russian/US Strela-2 adapter from the EFGF (electrical flight grapple fixture) on the FGB module and its installation on the FRGF (flight releasable grapple fixture) on the PMA-3 (pressurized mating adapter #3). This task was deferred for a future spacewalk as the crew were running behind schedule – they were 45 minutes behind the timeline and the task would have taken at least 2 more hours, taxing the suits’ consumables. Other than this, the spacewalk was completed successfully.
My only disappointment with the spacewalk was that Sergei held the camera and took all the photos, so there were no outside photos of him in his spacesuit!
Links
- ISS On-Orbit Status: 18 August
- JSC Station Status Report: 18 August
- NASA: Station Crew Completes Spacewalk
- ЦУП, TsUP: Выход в космос, exit into space: 18/8/2005
- MSNBC.com: “Spacewalkers collect science experiments”
Photo links
- NASA VKD photos: ISS-E-11944, 11947, 11948, 11949, 11958 (none of Sergei, unfortunately)
Photo gallery
Both Expedition 11 Orlan suits featured this rather nice patch embroidered with ВКД МКС-XI – VKD ISS-XI (Roman numerals for 11). A silver-suited spacewalker floats near one of the golden solar panels.
