posted 02-03-2016 10:04 AM               

Russian spacewalk for gear and science work

Yuri Malenchenko and Sergey Volkov of Roscosmos began a planned 5.5-hour spacewalk from Russia's Pirs docking compartment of the International Space Station on Wednesday (Feb. 3) at 6:55 a.m. CST (1255 GMT).

During their extravehicular activity (EVA), the two spacewalkers are to deploy and retrieve several experiment packages on the Zvezda and Poisk modules and install devices called gap spanners, which will be placed on the hull of the space station to facilitate the movement of crew members on future spacewalks.

Malenchenko and Volkov will install the Vinoslivost experiment to test the effects of the space environment on various structural material samples. The two will also test the Restavratsiya device, which could be used to glue special coatings to external surfaces of the station's Russian segment.

The pair will also retrieve the EXPOSE-R experiment, a collection of biological and biochemical samples. The EXPOSE program is part of the European Space Agency's research into astrobiology, or the study of the origin, evolution and distribution of life in the universe.

Prior to the start of the spacewalk, Malenchenko had spent 30 hours and five minutes outside the space station on five EVAs. Volkov has previously logged 18 hours and 35 minutes on three spacewalks.

Wednesday's EVA is the 193rd in support of space station assembly and maintenance.

Malenchenko is designated extravehicular crew member 1 (EV1) and Volkov is EV2. Both are wearing Russian Orlan spacesuits bearing blue stripes.

posted 02-03-2016 12:08 PM               

Russian spacewalk completed early

Expedition 46 flight engineers Yuri Malenchenko and Sergey Volkov concluded their spacewalk on Wednesday (Feb. 3) at 11:40 a.m. CST (1740 GMT).

The cosmonauts took only four hours and 45 minutes to complete the tasks that were originally planned for a 5.5-hour spacewalk. Among their activities was the jettison of a flash drive that held messages and videos collected to mark the 70th anniversary of Russia's Victory Day.

Station crew members have conducted 193 spacewalks in support of assembly and maintenance of the space station. Spacewalkers have now spent 1,204 hours and 48 minutes working outside the orbiting laboratory.