NASA has given the inexperienced mild to restart U.S.-led spacewalks outdoors the International Space Station (ISS) following the completion of an investigation right into a severe incident that occurred throughout a spacewalk in March.

It means the following NASA spacewalk may happen as early as mid-November, the house company mentioned this week.

NASA determined to halt operations outdoors the ISS after a spacewalk during which a skinny layer of moisture appeared contained in the helmet of astronaut Matthias Maurer.

An investigation revealed that as much as 50% of Maurer’s visor had been coated in water, with further moisture present in an absorption pad on the rear of his helmet.

Although Maurer’s case wasn’t deemed an emergency on the time, NASA described it as a “close call” and so determined to halt spacewalks till it may decide the trigger.

Water samples from the helmet and a few spacesuit {hardware} have been returned to Earth for evaluation.

“During the investigation, the space station team completed a detailed test, teardown, and evaluation of the water samples and suit hardware to determine what led to the observed water, which was more than normal, in the helmet,” NASA mentioned this week.

No {hardware} failures have been discovered inside the go well with, main investigators to conclude that the water possible appeared within the helmet due to “several variables such as crew exertion and crew cooling settings [that] led to the generation of comparatively larger than normal amounts of condensation within the system.”

In response to its findings, NASA has up to date varied operational procedures for such conditions and added new {hardware} to attenuate situations that might result in water accumulation.

“Crew safety is the top priority of NASA and our international partners,” mentioned Kathryn Lueders, affiliate administrator for NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate. “I’m proud of the space station and ground teams’ work to keep our crew members safe, for taking the time necessary to close out the investigation, and for continually finding ways to mitigate risks in human spaceflight.”

Since NASA halted U.S.-led spacewalks in May, solely three have taken place outdoors the ISS, principally involving Russian cosmonauts.

When the following spacewalk takes place, NASA astronauts are anticipated to proceed with work rolling out new photo voltaic arrays for the station as a part of ongoing work to improve the orbital outpost’s energy provide.

For some, Maurer’s expertise delivered to thoughts an nearly catastrophic incident that occurred throughout an ISS spacewalk in 2013.

Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano was working outdoors the station when water started to appear in his helmet. He later described how blobs of water started to get into his nostril, mouth, and eyes, making it arduous to see his environment and, extra worryingly, to breathe.

Thanks to his thorough coaching, Parmitano was in a position to stay calm and discover his method again to the airlock and security. A subsequent investigation put the trigger right down to a contaminated fan pump contained in the spacesuit.

For extra on spacewalks, take a look at this gallery of beautiful photos exhibiting astronauts working in orbit through the years.

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