Spacewalk Ended After Astronaut Spots Moisture In Helmet

Almost five hours into Friday’s spacewalk, Kopra, 52, reported that his helmet pad was damp and a ball of water had collected in his helmet, prompting NASA to end the mission.

The situation brought back memories of a harrowing emergency in 2013 when Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano’s helmet began rapidly filling with water and risked drowning him.

Peake and Kopra were back inside the pressurized space station at 12:31 p.m. ET, NASA said.

CO2 sensors have been fitted in the helmets of astronauts since then, and these helped alert Colonel Kopra to the problem. Later he said the water bubble was 10cm long and getting thicker.

Kopra was reportedly able to taste the water and found it to be extremely cold suggesting that a leaking cooling tube within the suit is to blame.

Ground control told the astronauts to immediately return to the airlock, but later said it had just been a precautionary measure, and that the astronauts had not been in danger.

By that time, the team’s main mission – to replace a broken voltage regulator – had already been completed.

Tim Peake is scheduled to step out in space today from his base on board the International Space Station.

Peake, who arrived at the orbital outpost one month ago, had spent months practicing for the spacewalk in a special Nasa swimming pool ahead of his departure.

Foale, however, was an astronaut for NASA, not the European program.

His daring six-hour mission, which involved carrying out key repairs to the International Space Station (ISS), was a success as Britain swelled with pride watching from Earth.

Despite the considerably smaller leak, the cap that Kopra wore on his head, under his helmet, was moist, as were other parts of his suit.

There have been 191 spacewalks for maintenance at the space station, including a similar walk completed in 2014 by Nasa astronaut Reid Wiseman, who will help guide the current EVA from mission control in Houston. Former Beatle Paul McCartney said via Twitter.

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

Replied Peake: “It’s great to be wearing it, a huge privilege, a proud moment”.

On his blog he wrote: “Although I am exhilarated by tomorrow’s spacewalk I have no time to dwell on these emotions”.