June 14 (UPI) — NASA astronauts Ricky Arnold and Drew Feustel are a few hours into today’s spacewalk. The duo are currently outside the International Space Station, working to install high-definition cameras, which will offer improved views of approaching spacecraft.
Expedition 56 crewmates Serena Auñón-Chancellor and Alexander Gerst, who arrived last week, are supporting the spacewalk mission, which is being broadcast live on NASA TV.
Gerst, of the European Space Agency, helped Arnold and Feustel into their spacewalk suits early this morning. At 8:06 a.m. ET, the two astronauts plugged their spacesuits into battery power, marking the official beginning of the mission.
Auñón-Chancellor of NASA is operating the Canadarm2 robotic arm. The robotic arm can perform a variety of functions, including holding the astronauts steady in place as they work on electronics outside the space station.
So far, the duo began by laying down ethernet cables. Now they’re replacing cameras and lights.
Thursday’s spacewalk is the 211th in the history of the space station and the sixth this year. Arnold and Feustel are spacewalking veterans. The mission will mark Feustel’s ninth trip outside the space station and the fifth for Arnold. The spacewalk will last 6 1/2 hours, ending at approximately 2:36 p.m.
“Feustel will surpass NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson’s record of 60 hours and 21 minutes to move into third place for cumulative time spent during spacewalks,” NASA confirmed.
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