Roscosmos cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov are preparing for the 59th spacewalk under the Russian program (51st scheduled) as part of the 66th long-term expedition to the International Space Station, the state media has said.
On January 18, 2022, during the final preparations for extravehicular activity, the Russian crewmembers are checking the equipment and tools needed for the spacewalk. They also inspect the Orlan-MKS No. 4 and No. 5 spacesuits, and consulting with specialists from the Lead Operations Control Team (Rocket and Space Corporation Energia) and the TsNIIMash Mission Control Center (part of Roscosmos) on the upcoming work in outer space.
The main task of the spacewalk will be to integrate the Prichal Node Module into the ISS Russian segment. To do this, Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov will install and connect the Kurs-P passive rendezvous system antennas on the outer surface of the new Russian module, reinstall the TV camera and lay a television cable, install spacecraft docking targets and handrails between Nauka and Poisk modules.
Time permitting, Roscosmos cosmonauts will dismantle the Kurs-NA active rendezvous system antennas from Prichal.
The spacewalk is scheduled for January 19, 2022. The Poisk Mini-Research Module hatches are to be opened at 12:00 UTC with the spacewalk is to take 6.5 hours. All operations will be broadcast live on the Roscosmos website and social networks.
This will be the third spacewalk for Anton Shkaplerov and the fourth for Pyotr Dubrov. The upcoming EVA will be the 155th performed by cosmonauts in domestically produced spacesuits since March 1965.