Phone home: Tim Peake fails to make contact from mission

British astronaut Tim Peake was forced to leave an answerphone message for his parents after calling them from the International Space Station because they had ‘popped out’.

Without today’s fix, the Russian supply ship, named Progress, would not be able to dock with the space station as scheduled on Wednesday.

As per the agency experts, everything during the spacewalk went as per plan, but still they said a huge risk is always involved in such tasks.

In less than an hour, the astronauts released brake handles on either side of crew equipment carts next to the MT. Ground controllers successfully moved the entire rig back to a nearby worksite, where it was safely latched into place. It reached orbit without a hitch, kicking off a two-day journey to the International Space Station.

At 7:45 a.m. EST (12:45 UTC) this morning, NASA astronauts Scott Kelly and Tim Kopra kicked off the work week by switching their spacesuits to battery power and exiting the International Space Station.

The mobile transporter rail vehicle carries the robotic arm from one location to another on the outside of the orbiting lab.

Mr Peake said Major Peake’s two sons, Thomas, six, and Oliver, four, were both “fine”, adding: “They’ve become used to the idea that Daddy’s up on the space station so they’ll be following his adventures along with the rest of us”.

The spacewalk was planned for three hours, and the astronauts planned to take care of a few other tasks if time permits.

NASA described the job as a “cautionary measure” that needs to be done ahead of the arrival of the Russian Progress supply ship on Wednesday.

Year five teacher Mrs Gatiss said: “Engaging with this exciting mission has given the children an awesome insight into Tim Peake’s mission, and has also deepened their knowledge of the solar system”.