MOSCOW. Jan 26 (Interfax-AVN) - International Space Station (ISS) crewmembers Salizhan Sharipov and Leroy Chiao exited the station at 10:41 a.m. Moscow time (0741 GMT) on Wednesday, an Interfax correspondent reported from mission control in Korolyov outside Moscow.
The hatches were opened following an almost 20 minute delay. After a space walk, which will last for about five and a half hours, the crew will return to the station and the hatches will be sealed at 3:46 p.m. Moscow time (1246 GMT).
Sharipov and Chiao are expected to install a European manipulator and other equipment on the Russian Zvezda segment. They will also assemble the Biorisk hardware intended to study the influence of outer space on micro-organisms as part of a program to ensure the environmental safety of the station and study the problem of planetary quarantine.
Space walks present a special problem for the crew and experts monitoring the flight and conditions on the station. Each long-duration crew normally conducts two or three space walks.
Each crew member has two safety cords, one of which must always be linked to the station. There is no other safety equipment except for these two metal cords.