ISS: Spacewalk aborted by suit problem
The cosmonaut is safe
Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev was outside the International Space Station, trying to install two cameras on the European robotic arm attached to the Russian part of the station, when the alarm went off at Roscosmos headquarters. The ground team detected a ” slight fluctuation ” in his suit’s battery power levels and immediately ordered the astronaut back to the station.
Drop whatever you’re doing and start heading back right away
With complete composure, Artemyev re-entered the ISS and connected his suit to a power supply. Although details on the exact nature of the damage were not released, a NASA spokesperson emphasized that the astronaut “was not in any danger .”
This is not the first time that a similar incident involving spacesuits has occurred. In 2013, Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano’s suit began to leak fluids, causing his helmet to fill with water, making it difficult for him to breathe. Fortunately his composure saved his life and he managed to return to the station in time.
These incidents remind us that as much as we are used to spacewalks, the safety of astronauts is fragile and the slightest problem can pose a significant risk to their lives.