Home>>Sci-Edu
Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, February 27, 2004

Astronauts begin spacewalk, leaving space station empty

Two astronauts stepped out of the International Space Station late Feb. 26 afternoon, leaving the orbiting outpost empty for the first time when all of its habitants are working outside.


PRINT DISCUSSION CHINESE SEND TO FRIEND


Two astronauts stepped out of the International Space Station late Feb. 26 afternoon, leaving the orbiting outpost empty for the first time when all of its habitants are working outside.

The tasks in front of US astronaut Michael Foale and his crewmate, Alexander Kaleri, who is a Russian, include retrieving and deploying Japanese and Russian science experiment devices on the exterior of the station's Zvezda service module, which is made by Russia.

Among the devices is a torso-like one called Matroshka, which is designed to measure the effects of radiation on simulated human tissue.

Usually, when two astronauts are conducting spacewalks outside the International Space Station, a third person will remain inside to monitor systems or assist in a crisis.

After the Columbia tragedy in Feb. 1, 2003, the three remaining US space shuttles have been grounded and the space station has depended on Russian spaceships to transport passengers, cargoes and supplies. The normal space station crew of three was also reduced to two.

Russia has pushed for the first International Space Station two-person spacewalk. After months of safety reviews, the US space agency NASA gave the finally go-ahead on Tuesday.

Thursday's spacewalks are scheduled to last about five hours and 45 minutes.

Source: Xinhua


Questions?Comments? Click here
    Advanced






China to stage int'l seminar on space law, technology

China selects participants for space law moot court contest

Russian cargo spacecraft docks with International Space Station





 


"Keep pace with the times" becomes ad title on NY Times ( 4 Messages)

China suspends crude oil exports to Japan ( 11 Messages)

Alstom, front runner in China's high-speed railway bidding ( 4 Messages)

Experts: China may raise renminbi interest rate ( 4 Messages)

Chinese language losing popularity in Singapore ( 24 Messages)



Copyright by People's Daily Online, all rights reserved