Video footage shows Jack Fisher (above) and Peggy Whitson (below) repairing outside the International Space Station.
On Tuesday, astronauts successfully completed a “critical” open-air approach to correct a breakdown in an instrument providing power to the ISS. On Saturday, a computer repeater (MDM) broke down. In size it resembles a microwave and weighs 23 kg. It controls the solar panels, power generation and other equipment at the station.
On the ISS, such a device is present in duplicate, so the failure did not carry a deadly threat. But at NASA, the repair mission was classified as “critical” and priority.
Quick Repair
Astronauts coped with the problem in 2 hours and 46 minutes. It is much faster than standard 6.5 hours. Whitson did the repairs, and Fisher installed antennas on the Destiny module to improve the quality of the wireless connection. It is not yet clear why there was a problem in MDM. It was installed in March, but this is not the first time the equipment needs repair. The device itself has already been replaced in 2014.
New record
Whitson - the record holder for going into space. It ranks third in the amount of time spent in space - 60 hours 21 minutes (10 exits). The world record still holds Anatoly Soloviev - 78 hours 21 minutes (16 outs). He is followed by Mike Lopez-Alegria - 67 hours and 40 minutes (10 exits).
On Tuesday there was the 201st release in the entire history of the ISS.
