The report describes a small radar unit installed on the Russian Nauka module by cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub. The device could not be fully deployed through automatic systems or manual control, according to the source from TASS. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges of robotic and manual deployment tasks outside the International Space Station during a spacewalk. The radar’s purpose is to monitor the Earth’s surface, a capability valued for scientific observation and mission planning. While technicians on the ground work to diagnose the issue, the crew remains focused on maintaining safe operations aboard the station as they continue to monitor the status of the equipment and its potential impact on experiments and daily routines in orbit.
Earlier missions placed a compact radar array outside the multifunctional laboratory module Science to observe Earth from orbit. This installation was intended to provide additional data for understanding surface dynamics, weather patterns, and environmental changes. The choice of location was based on maximizing instrument visibility and minimizing interference with other experiments conducted in the vicinity of the Nauka module and the Science laboratory.
The locator system could not be activated automatically. Nikolai Chub attempted to position the panels manually, aiming for the precise alignment needed for optimal data collection. After several unsuccessful tries, ground experts advised the crew to return to the station to preserve safety and continue troubleshooting with remote guidance. This scenario underscores the collaborative flow between astronauts in orbit and specialists on Earth who guide complex tasks in real time, ensuring that progress does not compromise crew safety or ISS operations.
A representative from NASA Mission Control Center in Houston stated that the crew will address the issue during the next spacewalk. The team emphasized that the locator would not interfere with the ongoing operations of the ISS while investigations continue. This stance reflects the careful risk assessment that governs spaceflight activities, where additional tasks are coordinated to avoid impacting critical life support, power systems, and orbital maintenance as crews pursue solutions.
Prior to this incident, reports from the ground indicated activity related to radiator and thermal control work as part of routine maintenance and research objectives. On an October 9 mission, a spacewalker connected a faulty radiator circuit leak, with Bauman in space to supervise the activity. During this EVA, a satellite named Parus-MSTU was launched to support his students and to test a radar installation intended for a new experiment. These operations illustrate the continuous sequence of EVA tasks designed to advance technology demonstrations and data collection aboard the ISS, often interwoven with educational outreach and scientific experiments conducted from Earth.
Discussion in the United States has referenced ongoing concerns about the reliability of Russian equipment aboard the ISS. The dialogues emphasize the importance of robust cross-agency collaboration and real-time problem solving to maintain mission safety, data integrity, and the smooth functioning of international research programs on the station. The current radar deployment challenge sits within a broader context of multi-agency coordination and continuous monitoring of hardware performance, with a focus on preserving the long-term viability of joint research in low-Earth orbit.