Now Reading: Anil Menon spacewalk partly fails as ISS antenna spare not installed
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Anil Menon spacewalk partly fails as ISS antenna spare not installed
Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon and European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot completed a six-hour-23-minute spacewalk on August 18, removing a failed communications antenna from the International Space Station but running out…
Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon and European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot completed a six-hour-23-minute spacewalk on August 18, removing a failed communications antenna from the International Space Station but running out of time to install its replacement. The spacewalk was the 282nd in support of station maintenance and the first for Adenot, who became the first French woman to perform a spacewalk. Menon, a physician and engineer who joined NASA in 2021, was on his second EVA in 10 days.
The antenna is a critical link for high-speed data transmission between the station and NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston. According to Hindustan Times, the astronauts faced delays removing tight power and data connectors and unbolting the antenna. India Today and Times of India reported the spacewalk as ongoing or completed successfully, while Mathrubhumi noted the antenna replacement as the goal. NASA stated the installation will be completed during a future spacewalk, currently planned for August 25.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Most Indian outlets framed the spacewalk as a success or milestone, emphasizing Menon's Indian roots and Adenot's historic first. Only Hindustan Times reported the partial failure, the spare antenna not installed due to time constraints, and included Menon's own remarks about unexpected difficulties. India Today's live updates and Mathrubhumi's report omitted this outcome entirely. The careful reader should note that NASA's own statement confirms the antenna removal but postpones installation, meaning the primary objective was not achieved. The next spacewalk on August 25 will be the one to watch.
Coverage: 5 sources, 5 neutral
Sources (5): indiatoday.in (neutral report), indiatoday.in (2) (neutral report), english.mathrubhumi.com (neutral report), timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report), hindustantimes.com (neutral report)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 5 sources linked above.
