NASA and ESA astronauts complete spacewalk

NASA and ESA astronauts Jessica Meir and Sophie Adenot successfully completed a spacewalk outside the International Space Station. They spent nearly seven hours performing critical tasks to maintain and upgrade the orbiting laboratory. This marked the 284th spacewalk for the station's assembly, maintenance, and upgrades.During the spacewalk, Meir and Adenot installed a new retroflector on the forward port of the station's Harmony module. This device is crucial for enhancing spacecraft navigation during future rendezvous and docking. They also replaced a high-definition camera on the station's truss, ensuring continuous visual monitoring for ground control and observation. Additionally, the duo collected a swab from the station's exterior to test for microorganisms, contributing to research on microbial life in space.The astronauts also prepared for future electrical and scientific enhancements. They partially installed jumper cables for electrical systems and began preparation for replacing the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer's radiator. These tasks are vital for the long-term functionality and scientific output of the ISS, supporting experiments and technological demonstrations.Despite a minor, quickly resolved issue with Adenot's left arm mobility, the spacewalk proceeded largely as planned. This marked Meir's seventh and Adenot's third spacewalk, solidifying their contributions to spaceflight. These collaborative efforts between international space agencies underscore the global commitment to advancing humanity's presence and understanding of the cosmos.