Tri-Service

Tim Peake Steps Out For Spacewalk

Former Army Apache pilot Tim Peake has begun the first ever spacewalk by a British astronaut outside the International Space Station.

Major Peake, of the European Space Agency, and NASA astronaut Tim Kopra are working closely together to repair a faulty power unit on the outside of the station, with the spacewalk set to last around six hours.

The unit is relatively easy to replace because it is a simple box that can be removed by undoing one bolt. Once done, the spacewalkers will lay cables in advance of new docking ports and reinstall a valve that was removed last year.

Tim Peake in training. Picture: Bill Stafford

Tim Peake said: “Our primary task will be to replace a failed Solar Shunt Unit, which transfers electrical power generated by the solar panels.”

Before the astronauts left, they will have had to breathe pure oxygen for two hours to purge their bodies of nitrogen. The spacesuit pressure is lower than in the Space Station and the drop could give them the ‘bends’, much like scuba divers rising too quickly to the sea surface.

They also will have had to be helped in and out of their suits by another astronaut inside the station - a major operation in itself.

Preparing for the spacewalk

Donning their spacesuits and safety equipment will have taken hours, before entering the airlock to reduce the pressure until it was safe to open the exterior hatch.

More: GO for flight! Major Tim Peake Blasts Into Space

Major Peake said: "I am thrilled at this opportunity for a spacewalk.

"Maintaining the International Space Station from the outside requires intense operations - not just from the crew, but also from our ground support teams who are striving to make this spacewalk as safe and efficient as possible."