Russian cosmonauts – Oleg Artemyev and Sergey Prokopyev, are carrying out a set of important research works in outer space, scheduled to last almost seven hours. And in addition to installing necessary equipment, and conducting a number of experiments, the ISS crew will test their latest spacesuits in space.
To give us a look of what is happening now at the outer space station, here is Evgeny Davidov.
They went out in space 12 minutes later than previously scheduled. The hatch of the docking compartment finally opened at 18:58 Moscow time. Oleg Artemiev and Sergei Prokofiev have already been in space for about an hour. and here, at the Mission Control Center in Moscow Oblast, their work is being closely monitored.
This is the 45th planned work by cosmonauts in outer space. For Oleg Artemiev, this is the third time and the first time for Sergei Prokofiev. There is indeed a bit of stress, but that's not affecting the quality of the work. Artemiev and Prokofiev are expected to be outside the station for more than six hours.
They have several tasks. The first, most important task is to dismantle the devices containing microorganisms from the outer surface of the ISS, which was set up last year, to ship them later back to Earth. Scientists will then study how viable life is for these microorganisms is in outer space.
The second task is to install equipment that will monitor the state of the environment of our planet. The Russian cosmonauts will also launch four nanosatellites into outer space.
Aleksandr Kaleri, director of RKK Energiya's spaceflight center, cosmonaut, Hero of Russia: "The crew has now started to move and attach the equipment to the service module, and the main task is to install this equipment".
Interestingly, the cosmonauts are wearing the new-generation Orlan spacesuits. This actually makes this the "premiere show" of the newest Russian space suit. The suits are interesting in that they have built-in air conditioners, and the sleeves, made of special material, do not fold, making working in open space more comfortable. The astronauts will also make a panoramic video and will bring quite a few impressive shots back to Earth.
Evgeny Davydov, Sergey Dovgal and Andrey Boroukhin, Vesti
