Britain gets 1st spacewalker; station power grid needs fixed

NASA cut short a planned six-hour spacewalk on Friday after one of the astronauts reported water in his helmet, a frightening repeat of a near-drowning more than two years ago.

While Former British astronaut Michael Foale was the first Brit to walk in space, he had dual American citizenship and did so as a NASA astronaut. Peake, however, is representing Britain as an astronaut under the authority of the European Space Agency.

Chief astronaut Chris Cassidy said that when Tim reported of the water bubble, it was a matter of concern.

“I’m doing good”, he repeated on his way back inside. Water in the sublimator cooling component can condense when the suit is repressurized after a spacewalk, causing a small amount of water to push into the helmet, NASA said. According to NASA, neither of the astronauts’ lives were in danger.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) – Two astronauts – including Britain’s first spacewalker – ventured outside Friday morning to restore full power to the International Space Station.

Major Peake also posted a selfie from the spacewalk and said: “Today’s exhilarating spacewalk will be etched in my memory forever – quite an incredible feeling!” The US space agency swiftly terminated the spacewalk at the four-hour and 10-minute mark. The spare had been inside the space station since 1999; newly arrived cables allowed a software update.

“A spacewalk is absolutely the pinnacle of an astronaut’s career”. The eight solar panels, which feed electricity into the station, should now be fully operational.

He carried the unit, which would weigh 90 kilograms on Earth, to the far end of the space station’s truss, about 60 meters from the exit.

Once the inner hatch was open, they were expected to help the spacewalkers remove their suits and remove the water from Tim Kopra’s face.

“We re all watching, no pressure!”.

It’s not a decision NASA takes lightly, since getting astronauts ready for the spacewalk took five hours of preparation. “Wishing you a happy stroll outdoors in the universe”.

After the operation was terminated by the lead Flight Director, Major Peake and Colonel Kopra were told to spend some time cleaning up their tools before heading to safety.