Tim Peake has become the first astronaut representing Britain to walk in space. But the ex-army major’s trip outside the International Space Station
ADVERTISEMENTTim Peake has become the first astronaut representing Britain to walk in space.
But the ex-army major’s trip outside the International Space Station on Friday was cut short after his NASA crewmate, American Tim Kopra, reported a possible leak in his helmet.
“The crew is not in any danger whatsoever,” mission commentator Rob Navias said in a live broadcast of the spacewalk on NASA TV.
Ending the spacewalk two hours early was a precaution, Navias added.
Luckily, the intrepid pair had already completed their main task – replacing a failed voltage regulator in the station’s power system – when Kopra reported a water bubble had formed in his helmet.
As a precaution, #spacewalk terminated due to small amount of water in @Astro_Tim's helmet. https://t.co/KX5g7zfYQehttps://t.co/6sRiiiLFPo
— NASA (@NASA) 15 Janvier 2016
The duo were scheduled to spend more than six hours outside the station, a $100 billion research laboratory that flies about 400 km above Earth, on other maintenance chores.
That work will be rescheduled, Navias said.
Today's #spacewalk has ended early. The crew was never in any danger. Listen to the NASA TV commentator for details. https://t.co/TomSPQvunr
— NASA (@NASA) 15 Janvier 2016
Peake, 43, blasted off to the ISS as part of a six-month mission for the European Space Agency in December, becoming the first Briton in space since Helen Sharman travelled on a Soviet spacecraft for eight days in 1991, and the first to do so under a British flag.
His mission has attracted widespread attention in the UK, with the spacewalk beamed live on news channels.
Tinkering with the Station’s Flux Capacitor today…alright – it’s really a Combustion Facility but nearly as cool pic.twitter.com/5DVO4OfcCl
— Tim Peake (@astro_timpeake) 31 Décembre 2015