Astronauts Reid Wiseman, 38, and Butch Wilmore, 51, replaced a failed electrical unit at the International Space Station Spacewalkers encountered balky bolts but still managed to complete the job in the allotted time They traveled 260 miles from earth to reach ISS

By Associated Press

Published: 14:01 EST, 15 October 2014 | Updated: 19:51 EST, 15 October 2014

NASA's spacewalking astronauts replaced a failed electrical unit at the International Space Station on Wednesday, restoring full power to the orbiting lab.

The space station had been operating since spring with only seven of its eight solar-power channels.

The work by Reid Wiseman. 38, and Butch Wilmore, 51, NASA's second spacewalk in two weeks brought the energy capability back up to 100 percent.

NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman (right) and Barry Wilmore (left) seen working inside the International Space Station previously on October 1, 2014

The spacewalkers encountered balky bolts but still managed to complete the job in the allotted time, with less than two minutes to spare.

'Yoo-hoo!' they cheered as NASA declared victory.

The voltage regulator shorted out in May but could not be replaced until now because of a yearlong hiatus in non-emergency spacewalks by NASA.

Originally posted here:

NASA astronauts complete second successful spacewalk in two weeks