NASA Cancels ISS Spacewalk Due to Spacesuit Discomfort

Unplanned Spacewalk Cancellation

NASA cancelled a planned spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday due to a “spacesuit discomfort issue.” The decision was made roughly an hour before the mission was set to begin. NASA astronauts Tracy C. Dyson and Matt Dominick, part of the ISS’s six-member U.S. crew, were preparing for a six-hour excursion for routine repairs and a scientific mission.

Spacesuit Issues and Crew Safety

The cancellation was announced by a NASA spokeswoman on a live stream, stating, “Today’s spacewalk will not be proceeding as planned.” NASA later confirmed the issue on its website. It remains unclear what caused the spacesuit discomfort or if it was linked to a medical issue.

This spacewalk would have been NASA’s 90th in the ISS’s 23-year history and the second this year. For Dyson, who first flew to space in 2007, it would have been her fourth spacewalk. It was set to be Dominick’s first.

NASA astronaut Mike Barratt requested a private communication line with flight controllers in Houston to discuss a medical issue, which led to the decision to cancel the spacewalk.

Spacesuit Design and Upgrades

NASA’s spacesuits, designed nearly half a century ago, have undergone only minor redesigns and refurbishments. Issues with these aging suits have led to the cancellation of previous spacewalks. NASA’s inspector general has highlighted the need for upgrades, which are currently being developed by Raytheon’s Collins Aerospace.

Simulated Emergency Raises Alarm

On the night before the cancellation, NASA accidentally broadcasted a simulated emergency involving astronauts being treated for decompression sickness on the ISS. This raised public alarm about the health of the U.S. space crew. NASA clarified that there was no real emergency and that the audio was mistakenly routed from an ongoing simulation training exercise.