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Cosmonauts conduct VKD-63 spacewalk

On Dec. 19. 2024, two members of the 72nd expedition aboard the International Space Station, ISS, Aleksei Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner, spent more than seven hours on the exterior of the Russian ISS Segment installing an X-ray instrument for astrophysics research and completing a number of secondary tasks which were concluded with Ovchinin's ride on the European Robotic Arm, ERA, to discard used hardware. One objective of relocating ERA's control panel was deferred to a future spacewalk, because the cosmonauts fell behind schedule.

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VKD-63 spacewalk at a glance:

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Tasks of the VKD-63 spacewalk

The main objective of the VKD-63 spacewalk staged from the Poisk module, MIM2, was the installation of the X-ray spectrometer on the Zvezda Service Module, SM. The 51-kilogram instrument, called SPIN-X1-MVN, where MVN stands for Monitor Vsego Neba — the Russian for all-sky monitor. It was developed at the Moscow-based Space Research Institute, IKI, for a global survey of X-ray sources across the celestial sphere.

The spacewalking cosmonauts had to fix the device to a standard attachment point on the large-diameter section of the service module. The instrument has no rotation mechanism of its own, but, as the station orbits the Earth every 93 minutes, the spectrometer's upward pointed aperture will gradually scan up to 84 percent of the sky. Each 72-day cycle performed during three years is expected to produce 15 all-sky surveys.

The spectrometer was designed to be managed from the pressurized interior of the station with the help of a 3.2-kilogram computerized control unit, BU (from the Russian Blok Upravleniya).

The secondary tasks of the VKD-63 spacewalk included the replacement of two pairs of electrical connector patch panels holding docked cables at two URM-D locations on the service module (along Planes II and IV within the module's coordinate system). After completing their tasks on Zvezda, the cosmonauts had to return to Poisk where they had to remove two Test and two Vynoslivost experiment pallets with samples of various materials which were exposed to the space environment for 3.5 years. Additionally, the cosmonauts had to remove the BVP Indikator-MKS sensor mast for the Kontrol experiment from the Poisk's exterior, which since June 2013 was measuring parameters of the natural "atmosphere" generated by the ISS.

The spacewalkers were also expected to re-locate the external control console EMMI-1, for the European Robotic Arm, ERA (INSIDER CONTENT) toward the SBT site on the Nauka module, while Ovchinin was expected to fix himself in foot restraints of the Personal Works Site, PRM, attached to the ERA. The arm, controlled by Aleksandr Gorbunov from the internal console inside the Nauka, was expected to move Ovchinin a few meters away from the station, before he would discard a bundle of electric connector plates, the Indikator-MKS hardware and protecive covers from the MVN spectrometer. The ejected hardware was expected to quickly burn up in the Earth's atmosphere.

The hatch opening for VKD-63 was scheduled for around 18:10 Moscow Time (10:10 a.m. EST) on Dec. 19, 2024, and the spacewalk was to last for 6.5 hours, until 00:50 Moscow Time on Dec. 20, 2024, (6:50 p.m. EST on December 19).

Preparations for VKD-63

The MVN instrument was delivered to the ISS aboard the Progress MS-28 cargo ship in August 2024, setting the stage for the VKD-63 in December 2024. The task was delegated to members of the Soyuz MS-26 crew Aleksei Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner who started gearing up for their first and only spacewalk during Expedition 72, even though, it would be a second spacewalk for Ovchinin after VKD-46 in 2019.

In early December, the cosmonauts configured the Russian Segment for the closure of hatches between the Progress MS-29 cargo ship and the Poisk module, MIM2, which was to serve as an airlock for the spacewalkers. (The hatches into the cargo ship were reported closed sometimes between Dec. 6 and Dec. 8, 2024, and, they were to remain shut until the conclusion of VKD-63.)

In parallel, fresh data was uploaded into the pair of internal control consoles of the ERA arm (IMMI-1 and IMMI-2), as well as into the central control posts, KTsP-1 and KTsP-2, of the Zvezda Service Module, SM, and into the arm's RTR simulator, Roskosmos said. Cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, who was prepared to assist the spacewalkers by operating the ERA arm, conducted extensive practice with all its systems. (Ahead of VKD-63, one end of the ERA was undocked from its parking position and its freed end effector moved toward the Transfer Compartment of the Zvezda Service Module.)

On December 9, the cosmonauts readied replaceable elements of the suits and other gear for spacewalk, checked life-support and pressure-control equipment in Poisk and inside the next-door Transfer Compartment, where Poisk was connected to Zvezda. In the following days, they also adjusted Orlan-MKS suits No. 4 and No. 5 for their heights and checked their pressurization. Also, an additional portable pressurization kit was installed in the Poisk module ahead of VKD-63, according to Roskosmos.

On the day of the spacewalk, mission control displayed the following timeline for VKD-63:

• 15:20 – 16:05 Moscow Time: Equipment setup, entering space suits;
• 16:05 – 18:04 Moscow Time: The (internal) hatch closure (between MIM2 and SM), airlock operations;
• 18:04 – 18:10 Moscow Time: MIM2 Egress hatch opening;
• 18:10 – 00:50 Moscow Time: VKD-63 spacewalk operations;
• 00:47 – 00:50 Moscow Time: Closure of the MIM2 ingress hatch;
• 00:50 – 01:50 Moscow Time: Airlock re-pressurization.

Cosmonauts perform VKD-63 spacewalk

Ivan Vagner (top) holds the MVN package (white box) and a bag with electric connector plates (orange) as Aleksei Ovchinin (bottom) egresses the Poisk module at the beginning of the VKD-63 spacewalk.

After completing around two hours of pre-breath operations and several more minutes of depressurization of the airlock, the cosmonauts were instructed to transfer their suits to internal power at around 18:30 Moscow Time, soon after the station entered orbital sunrise at 18:25:07 Moscow Time.

They then opened the hatch of the Poisk module at 18:35:53 Moscow Time, marking the official start of the VKD-63 spacewalk, around 26 minutes behind the original schedule. As usual, the two cosmonauts installed a protective ring around the circumference of the egress hatch and Vagner was first to exit the module. Around 16 minutes into the spacewalk, Vagner received a crew lock bag and two packages of electric connector panels from Ovchinin, followed by a container with the MVN instrument at around 18:55 Moscow Time. Ovchinin then exited Poisk at around 19:01 Moscow Time.

The cosmonauts then headed to the first work site on the Zvezda, meeting the first orbital sunset over the Indian Ocean at 19:25 Moscow Time, around 50 minutes into the spacewalk. Struggling through the maze of cables and around solar panels, both spacewalkers reached the large-diameter section of the service module at around 19:47 Moscow Time. Mission control then informed the cosmonauts that it would command the solar panels of the service module to rotate perpendicular to the Zvezda's main axis (and parallel to their position), however, Ovchinin reported that one panel got within 70 centimeters from his feet, which prompted controllers to further adjust its position. In the meantime, Vagner pulled the MVN package toward the installation interface.

The cosmonauts met the first sunrise of VKD-63 at 19:58:00 Moscow Time or 1 hour 23 minutes into the spacewalk. First, the cosmonauts disconnected the electric patch panels from the MVN package and secured them at the work site. Vagner then aligned the MVN instrument with the attachment interface, while Ovchinin screwed the device to the attachment bracket around 20:15 Moscow Time.

Mission control then advised the cosmonauts to switch to the task of replacing the electrical connector patch panels. They first removed cable connectors from old panels and removed the first old panel at around 20:28 Moscow Time. After some struggle with alignment, the first panel (No. 20) was docked into position at 20:37 Moscow Time, two hours into the spacewalk. Once it was in place, the cosmonauts re-connected the five cable connectors back in position and removed a wire tie from the newly installed panel which kept it from floating away before it could be secured to its permanent position. In the meantime, Vagner moved to the installation of panel No. 21 and then documented the area on video per request from mission control. Both cosmonauts then bundled the removed connector panels for eventual ejection from the station. They also closed insulation flaps over the newly installed panels.

In the meantime, another sunset of the spacewalk took place at 20:58:09 Moscow Time, with the night time lasting until 21:30:53 Moscow Time. During that time, Ovchinin had to connect the MVN instrument with cables, close thermal covers over them and then Vagner, on another side of Zvezda, had to untie and remove protective covers from the device. The removed covers would have to then be bundled together with the removed electric plates for subsequent disposal.

In the meantime, mission control performed another feathering of solar arrays at around 21:35 Moscow Time to facilitate another cosmonauts' transfer around Zvezda.

Vagner confirmed to mission control the removal of the first cover from the MVN at around 21:47 Moscow Time. and the removal of the second cover a minute later, as the crew was reported to be behind on their VKD-63 spacewalk timeline.

The cosmonauts work on the Zvezda Service Module around 22:06 Moscow Time.

Both cosmonauts then translated to Plane IV of the Service Module and performed electric connection work, which lasted until four hours into the spacewalk, when the mission control instructed the spacewalkers to translate toward Poisk to temporarily store the removed connector panels on the handrail of the module. Ovchinin reported closing the thermal flap over connector plate No. 19 at around 22:40 Moscow Time and then worked on securing to himself the removed hardware.

The cosmonauts finally headed back to Poisk at around 22:50 Moscow Time, as mission control commanded solar panels on Zvezda to move out of the way once again. At 22:55 Moscow Time, mission control informed the cosmonauts to once they reached Poisk for a scheduled break, that the ground specialists planned to discuss the subsequent course of action in the VKD-63 spacewalk (due to the lagging timeline). Mission control then suggested that Vagner perform the Indikator experiment removal on Poisk, while Ovchinin would prepare for ERA operations. In the meantime, the repositioning of the EMMI console was deferred to a future spacewalk due to lack of time.

Vagner and Ovchinin got back to Poisk at around 23:05 Moscow Time, just in time for another orbital sunrise of the VKD spacewalk.

At 23:17 Moscow Time, Gorbunov, inside the ISS, began moving the ERA into position for Ovchinin to anchor his legs in. In the meantime, Vagner approached the BVP boom of the Indikator experiment on Poisk. The ERA was reported in position at around 23:20 Moscow Time and at 23:32 Moscow Time, mission control informed Ovchinin that the ERA was ready to receive him, as the spacewalk approached the five-hour mark.

At 23:37 Moscow Time, Vagner reported dismantling two of the three supports of the Indikator experiment.

Before he boarded the ERA, mission control asked Ovchinin to take close-up video of the arm's position at around 23:44 Moscow Time. Two minutes later, Vagner reported that he had completed the removal of the Indikator hardware and that he was heading around Poisk to hand it over to Ovchinin, who grabbed it at 23:50 Moscow Time. The pair then merged the Indikator hardware with the rest of the bundle to be discarded.

At 23:55 Moscow Time, Ovchinin asked whether they had to add old suit-wiping towels, which had been secured to Poisk's handrails at the end of one of the previous spacewalks, but mission control replied that the towels could be ejected without going on ERA, so Ovchinin headed to the arm. Upon closer look, Ovchinin asked for the ERA's effector to be moved around 20 centimeters closer to the Transfer Compartment of the Zvezda, apparently for easier ingress into the PRM platform held by the arm. The ERA movement was confirmed at 00:02 Moscow Time, just 1.5 minutes before another sunset. After several more adjustments, Ovchinin got the "go" to ingress ERA's foot restraints at 00:04 Moscow Time. Ovchinin reported fixing his feet on the PRM platform at 00:12 Moscow Time and he grabbed the bundle around four minutes later. Ovchinin then reported he was ready for a ride on the arm to the jettisoning point. Mission control again re-positioned solar arrays on Zvezda, while Gorbunov prepared to move Ovchinin in position for the discarding operation.

In the meantime, Vagner moved to dismantle the Vynoslivost experiment. He removed one panel with samples at 00:30 Moscow Time and put into the storage bag.

The station emerged from darkness at 00:37 Moscow Time as VKD-63 hit six hours in duration. Ovchinin reported that he was ready for the release of the bundle at 00:42 Moscow Time, but mission control asked him to wait for Vagner to get into position for video and photo documentation of the process.

Ovchinin released the bundle at 00:49 Moscow Time, aiming it away from the station and down 30 degrees on the pitch axis.

A few minutes later, or 6 hours 16 minutes into the VKD-63 spacewalk, the ERA began moving Ovchinin back to the station.

Ovchinin rides the European Robotic Arm after discarding a bundle of used items from the ISS.

After one intermediate stop, the arm brought Ovchinin back to the vicinity of the Transfer Compartment of the Zvezda at around 01:00 Moscow Time and Ovchinin got out of the PRM foot restraints at 01:05 Moscow Time.

The spacewalkers then returned to the exit hatch and performed the routine operations of stowing the equipment and checking their suits before returning to the airlock. At 01:34 Moscow Time, the cosmonauts ejected the towels which they used to clean their suits and were instructed to re-enter the Poisk module. The cosmonauts closed the hatch into the module at 01:53:40 Moscow Time, marking the end of the VKD-63 spacewalk after 7 hours 17 minutes. According to NASA, Ovchinin logged 13 hours, 18 minutes outside after his two spacewalks.

MVN instrument specifications:

Specifications of the BU control unit:

To be continued

This page is maintained by Anatoly Zak; Last update: December 23, 2024

Page editor: Alain Chabot; Edits: December 18, December 23, 2024

All rights reserved

The interior layout of the SPIN instrument. Click to enlarge. Credit: IKI

SPIN instrument (top) and its control unit. Credit: IKI

X-ray detector of the SPIN monitor. Click to enlarge. Credit: IKI

The aperture cover of the SPIN monitor. Click to enlarge. Credit: IKI

A diagram showing planned worksites on the Zvezda Service Module, SM, during VKD-63. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos

A diagram showing planned worksites on the Poisk module, MIM2, during VKD-63. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos

A diagram showing the transfer of the EMMI console on the Nauka module during VKD-63. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos

Ovchinin and Vagner prepare for VKD-63 in December 2024. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos

Ahead of VKD-63, the European Robotic Arm, ERA, extended toward the Transfer Compartment of the Zvezda Service Module. Click to enlarge. Credit: NASA

Ovchinin's helmet camera monitors the installation of the MVN instrument package. Click to enlarge. Credit: NASA

The cosmonauts install the MVN instrument as seen by Ivan Vagner's helmet camera. Click to enlarge. Credit: NASA

Ivan Vagner at the FP21 fixating plate on the Zvezda during the replacement operation as seen by Ovchinin's helmet camera. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos

Ovchinin removes the old fixating plate (left) on Zvezda as seen by his helmet camera, with Vagner on his right. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos

Ovchinin's helmet cam shows the newly installed fixating panel at the FP20 location on Zvezda. Click to enlarge. Credit: NASA

Ovchinin's helmet cam shows the newly installed MVN experiment, (still in protective cover), on Zvezda. Click to enlarge. Credit: NASA

Ivan Vagner prepares to pack a removed fixating plate. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos

Ovchinin's helmet cam shows the end effector of the European Robotic Arm, as he is preparing to attach himself to the device. Click to enlarge. Credit: NASA

A close-up view of the ERA's end effector, as seen by Ovchinin's helmet cam. Click to enlarge. Credit: NASA

Vagner packs a removed experiment pallet as seen by his helmet camera. Click to enlarge. Credit: NASA

Aleksandr Gorbunov maneuvers the ERA with Ovchinin at the end for the release of the hardware bundle. Click to enlarge. Credit: NASA

Ovchinin disembarks form the ERA after completing the ejection of the hardware bundle from the ISS. Click to enlarge. Credit: NASA