As the tensions over Ukraine continues to anger onItalian astronaut joined Russian cosmonaut on Thursday in rare spacewalk show of lonliness.
Italian teamed Samantha Cristoforetti up with Russian Oleg Artemyev to work on The latest robotic arm for the International Space Station. The 37-foot (11 m) mechanical tip – contributed by the European Space Agency – blasted into orbit. with Russian laboratory last July.
The recently replaced head of the Russian Space Agency, Dmitry Rogozin, threatened to halt the installation work last Week, spacewalk mode in A question. After Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Europe withdrew out of its cooperation with Russia on a mission To Mars.
Despite the turmoil on Earth space The seven residents of the station repeatedly stressed that they were fine up There, as well as flight control teams in Houston and Moscow. The current The crew includes three Americans, three Russians, and one Italian.
Usually paired with Russian cosmonauts up together for Spacewalking, although sometimes NASA and ESA astronauts have ventured out with years before them.
Before processing the arm installation workcast Artemiev 10 Mini-satellites Exaggerate, one by one in radio technology an experience. each weight just 1 pound (one-half kilograms) and spin slowly when released.
The first six Drift away unharmed, but the seventh one brushed against a space solar wing station and framework. Artemyev said the contact was very light. NASA agreed there was no concern of ruin.
The Russian mission controller, Artemyev, urged this more Careful, his step improved for The last three satellites. It was first space walk for Cristoforetti, the only woman in The European Space Agency’s Astronaut Corps. Artemyev, station commander, is now sixSpacewalk time.
