Today, October 28, two cosmonauts are scheduled to conduct a spacewalk outside the International Space Station. This captivating off-Earth operation will be broadcast live, offering viewers a direct look at their work in orbit.
Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritskiy are scheduled to perform a spacewalk today, an extravehicular activity projected to last approximately six hours. The operation is set to commence around 10:20 a.m. EDT (1420 GMT).
Live coverage of the event is scheduled to commence at 9:45 a.m. EDT (1345 GMT). Viewers have the option to watch the broadcast directly through NASA’s official channels or via Space.com, which will carry the feed provided courtesy of the agency.
Two astronauts are scheduled to install new experiment hardware on the Nauka Multipurpose Laboratory Module and reposition a control panel for the European robotic arm, which is attached to Nauka. This information was confirmed by NASA News Chief Cheryl Warner in an emailed statement issued Monday (Oct. 27).
While most of NASA’s operations remain suspended due to the ongoing government shutdown, the agency plans to livestream today’s scheduled spacewalk. Minimal technical commentary will accompany the broadcast, as this activity is classified under “excepted mission operations,” a critical designation allowing essential functions to proceed even amidst the federal funding lapse, as confirmed by Warner.
International Space Station Commander Ryzhikov, who also leads Expedition 73, and Flight Engineer Zubritsky are preparing for their second spacewalk in less than two weeks. The accomplished duo previously ventured outside the orbiting laboratory on October 16, where they successfully installed a semiconductor experiment and jettisoned an outdated HDTV camera.
Today’s spacewalk will mark a significant milestone for both participants. It represents the third extravehicular excursion for Ryzhikov, who will be outfitted in a red-striped spacesuit. His colleague, Zubritsky, will embark on his second spacewalk, identifiable by blue stripes on his suit, Warner reports.
This upcoming extravehicular activity (EVA) will be the 277th spacewalk in the history of the International Space Station. The orbiting laboratory has maintained an uninterrupted human presence, hosting rotating astronaut crews continuously since November 2, 2000.
