Cosmonauts on spacewalk to add lab to space station, NASA reports

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Two spacewalking cosmonauts ( see spacewalk live here) are now preparing the outside of the International Space Station for the addition of a new Russian lab.

Flight Engineers Fyodor Yurchikhin and Alexander Misurkin began what is scheduled to be a 6-hour spacewalk at 9:32 a.m. EDT today. The cosmonauts are equipped with NASA helmet cameras to provide close-up views of their work.

The pair today are taking the first of what is expected to be many spacewalks to prepare the station for a planned replacing an older airlock with a new multipurpose laboratory module later this year.

The Russian Federal Space Agency plans to send the combination research facility, airlock and docking port to the station on a Proton rocket later this year, according to NASA.

During Monday's spacewalk, Yurchikhin and Misurkin are slated to replace a fluid flow control panel and install clamps so power cables can be installed on a future spacewalk. They also will retrieve several science experiments that have been attached on the outside orbiting station.

Today's spacewalk is the 169th in support of space station assembly and maintenance. It is the sixth spacewalk for Yurchikhin and the first for Misurkin, NASA noted.

This is the second of up to six Russian spacewalks planned for this year.

Two spacewalks by NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy and Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency are scheduled for July.

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Cosmonauts on spacewalk to add lab to space station, NASA reports

Russian astronauts take spacewalk at space station (Update)

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Javascript is currently disabled in your web browser. For full site functionality, it is necessary to enable Javascript. In order to enable it, please see these instructions. 4 hours ago by Marcia Dunn In this frame grab from video provided by NASA, two Russian flight engineers perform maintenance on the International Space Station, Monday, June 24, 2013. The crew includes three Russians, two Americans and one Italian. The Italian and one American will conduct a pair of spacewalks for NASA in July. (AP Photo/NASA)

Two space station astronauts took care of a little outside maintenance Monday.

Russian flight engineers Fyodor Yurchikhin and Alexander Misurkin replaced a main valve on the International Space Station, after emerging from their 250-mile (400-kilometer)-high home.

"To save the time, I'm embroidering," one of the spacewalkers said in Russian, holding a clump of cord as he worked on the fluid valve. "It's not easy to handle all these ropes." Later, he added, "OK, now we're doing bead work."

Also on the spacewalkers' to-do list: installing clamps and retrieving science experiments. Some of the work will pave the way for the arrival of a new Russian compartment at the end of this year.

The year's third spacewalk was under the direction of Russian Mission Control outside Moscow. The four other space station residents monitored the action from inside.

Yurchikhin arrived at the space station just a few weeks ago. Misurkin has been on board since March.

The crew includes three Russians, two Americans and one Italian. The Italian and one American will conduct a pair of spacewalks for NASA in July.

Begun in 1998, the space station still is one room short.

The Russian Space Agency plans to launch a research lab to replace the Pirs air lock that has been in place since 2001. An unmanned Proton rocket will hoist the lab, which also will serve as an air lock for spacewalk preparations and a docking port for visiting craft. As for PirsRussian for pierit will be cut loose before the launch of its replacement and burn up upon re-entry as junk.

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Russian astronauts take spacewalk at space station (Update)

Photos: Cosmonauts Spacewalk Outside Space Station – June 24, 2013

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Cosmonaut Outside International Space Station

A Russian spacewalker floats (partially obscured) outside the International Space Station on June 24, 2013 (EDT).

A cosmonaut brings a piece of equipment along with him (top center) as he maneuvers outside the International Space Station, June 24, 2013.

Two Russian spacewalkers exited the International Space Station on June 24, 2013 (EDT) for a spacewalk. One of them is seen at upper right. During the spacewalk, Flight Engineers Fyodor Yurchikhin and Alexander Misurkin will replace a fluid flow control valve panel on the Zarya module, test Kurs automated docking cables for the arrival of a new Russian laboratory module later this year and install clamps to later hold cables bringing power from the U.S. segment of the station to that new Russian module.

A view from a helmet camera one of the Russian cosmonauts shows the other Russian cosmonaut working outside the International Space Station on June 24, 2013 (EDT)

Two Russian cosmonauts ventured outside the International Space Station on June 24, 2013 to prepare the station's exterior for the arrival of a new Russian module.

Components and equipment of the International Space Station floats in front of a cosmonaut's helmet during a spacewalk on June 24, 2013 (EDT).

Russian cosmonauts Alexander Misurkin and Fyodor Yurchikhin finish replacing a fluid control valve panel on the outside of the International Space Station on June 24, 2013.

Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin catches sight of fellow cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin as they install a new piece of science hardware on the outside of the International Space Station. Image released on June 24, 2013.

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Photos: Cosmonauts Spacewalk Outside Space Station - June 24, 2013

BP: Bayan ng Cabatuan, Iloilo, nasa-state of calamity dahil sa pagdami ng nagkaka-dengue – Video

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BP: Bayan ng Cabatuan, Iloilo, nasa-state of calamity dahil sa pagdami ng nagkaka-dengue
Balita Pilipinas Ngayon rounds up the top stories from around the PhilippinesGMA #39;s regional stations in Luzon, Visayas, and MIndanao. It #39;s hosted by Mark Sal...

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BP: Bayan ng Cabatuan, Iloilo, nasa-state of calamity dahil sa pagdami ng nagkaka-dengue - Video