![\"Astronauts](\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/spacestation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2022\/12\/blog_iss068e029132.jpg\")
<\/a>Two Expedition 68<\/a> astronauts are preparing to exit the International Space Station<\/a> on Wednesday and augment the orbiting lab\u2019s power generation system. The duo from NASA, Frank Rubio<\/a> and Josh Cassada<\/a>, will spend about seven hours installing the station\u2019s fourth roll-out solar array on the Port-4 (P4) truss structure<\/a>.<\/p>\n Rubio and Cassada spent Tuesday gathering their tools and preparing the Quest airlock<\/a> for the 12th<\/sup> spacewalk of 2022. The pair were joined for the spacewalk preparations by Flight Engineers Nicole Mann<\/a> of NASA, Koichi Wakata<\/a> of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and Commander Sergey Prokopyev<\/a> from Roscosmos. The quintet gathered together and reviewed Wednesday\u2019s spacewalk procedures, tools, and components then called down to specialists on the ground for a readiness conference.<\/p>\n Mann and Wakata also took turns studying on a computer the Canadarm2 robotic arm<\/a> maneuvers necessary to support the NASA spacewalkers when they install the roll-out solar array on the P4. The two flight engineers will be at the robotics workstation commanding Canadarm2 and assisting the spacewalking duo during the fine-tuned installation job.<\/p>\n The pair also had time on Tuesday for microgravity research work. Mann watered dwarf tomatoes growing inside the Veggie<\/a> facility for the Veg-05<\/a> space agriculture study. Wakata checked cable connections on the Cell Biology Experiment Facility<\/a>, a specialized incubator with an artificial gravity generator housing research samples for a bone healing study<\/a>.<\/p>\n Before Prokopyev assisted the spacewalking team today, he worked on electronics maintenance and orbital plumbing tasks. Roscosmos Flight Engineer Dmitri Petelin<\/a> assisted Prokopyev with the electronics work before studying advanced Earth photography techniques and exploring ways to pilot spacecraft and robots on future planetary missions. Flight Engineer Anna Kikina<\/a> also worked on electronic component installations before checking radiation detection hardware and finally researching how international crews and mission controllers from around the world can improve communications.<\/p>\n Learn more about station activities by following the\u00a0space station blog<\/a>,\u00a0@space_station<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0@ISS_Research<\/a>\u00a0on Twitter, as well as the\u00a0ISS Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0ISS Instagram<\/a>\u00a0accounts.<\/p>\n Get weekly video highlights at:\u00a0https:\/\/roundupreads.jsc.nasa.gov\/videupdate\/<\/a><\/p>\n Get the latest from NASA delivered every week. Subscribe here:\u00a0www.nasa.gov\/subscribe<\/a><\/p>\n Get The Details…<\/a><\/p>\n Mark Garcia <\/p>\n Powered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Two Expedition 68 astronauts are preparing to exit the International Space Station on Wednesday and augment the orbiting lab\u2019s power generation system. The duo from NASA, Frank Rubio and Josh Cassada, will spend about seven hours installing the station\u2019s fourth roll-out solar array on the Port-4 (P4) truss structure. Rubio and Cassada spent Tuesday gathering \u2026 Continue reading
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