On December 19, Russian cosmonauts completed a seven-hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS), highlighted by the installation of an X-ray spectrometer and the disposal of spent equipment.
Expedition 72 flight engineer Alexey Ovchinin took a short ride on the European Robotic Arm (ERA) to release a bundle of obsolete items, including electrical connectors, covers, and an experiment boom. Operated by cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov from inside the ISS, the 37-foot (11.3-meter) ERA positioned Ovchinin to safely discard the bundle, ensuring it would burn up in Earth’s atmosphere.
“Here it goes, it is floating away,” Ovchinin said as he released the bundle with a push, ensuring it would not contact the station.
The spacewalk, which began at 10:36 a.m. EST (1536 GMT), saw Ovchinin and crewmate Ivan Vagner exit through the airlock of the Poisk module. They proceeded to the Zvezda service module, where they installed the All-Sky Monitor, an X-ray spectrometer designed to conduct comprehensive observations of the celestial sphere over the next three years.
The duo also replaced four electrical connector panels on Zvezda and retrieved material and biological samples from experiments, which will be returned to Earth for analysis. Additionally, they disposed of used towels from their spacesuits before reentering the station.
Due to time constraints, the cosmonauts postponed the relocation of an external control panel for the ERA, a non-critical task that would have facilitated future spacewalks.
The EVA concluded at 5:53 p.m. EST (2253 GMT), lasting 7 hours and 17 minutes. It marked the 272nd spacewalk in support of ISS operations since 1998 and the first during Expedition 72.
This was Ovchinin’s second spacewalk, bringing his total EVA time to 13 hours and 18 minutes, while it was Vagner’s first. Their efforts contribute to the ongoing maintenance and enhancement of the ISS.
