NASA astronauts successfully fix ISS rail auto in unscheduled spacewalk

A stuck rail vehicle at the International Space Stations has forced two astronauts out into the open space for a hastily organised spacewalk on Monday.

The brake is believed to have become stuck unexpectedly last week, and mission control in Houston has been unable to fix the problem robotically.

Flight Engineer Tim Kopra on a spacewalk outside the International Space Station before the delivery.

In this handout provided by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), back dropped by planet Earth the International Space Station (ISS) is seen from NASA space shuttle Endeavour after the station and shuttle began their post-undocking relative separation May 29, 2011 in space.

The Mobile Transporter, which is holding the station’s 58-foot robotic arm and other equipment, last week stopped rolling on rails just four inches from a work site near the center of the station orbiting 250 miles up. The pair moved a stuck rail auto out of the way before a Russian cargo ship is due to arrive later in the week.

“After quickly completing their primary objective for the spacewalk, Kelly and Kopra tackled several get-ahead tasks”, NASA stated in a news release.

Mr Peake also said that they will have a cardboard cut-out of their son at the Christmas table later this week, which they have named “Flat Tim”. The ISS Progress 62 resupply mission launched at 3:44 a.m. EST this morning (2:44 p.m. Baikonur time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

It’s the seventh spacewalk of the year.

Commander Scott Kelly concluded the message: “Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and happy new year from the International Space Station”.