US spacewalkers install 'new eyes' at space station

Two US astronauts installed a high-definition video camera at the International Space Station Tuesday and made more progress on repairs to the lab's robotic arm, NASA said.

NASA spokesman Rob Navias described the camera equipment as offering "new eyes" to the orbiting outpost, as live video showed astronaut Randy Bresnik in sharp detail, floating in his white spacesuit.

The previous camera had aged, and was tinting images pink. Another camera outside the ISS, nicknamed "Old Yeller" because of its yellow hues, is set to be replaced on the next spacewalk October 18.

The spacewalk was the second in five days for Bresnik and his NASA colleague Mark Vande Hei.

The spacewalk formally began when the duo switched their spacesuits to battery power at 1156 GMT, then floated out into the vacuum of space, NASA said. It ended six hours and 26 minutes later.

On their spacewalk Thursday, the pair replaced the latching end of the 57-foot-long (17-meter) Canadian-made arm, called Canadarm2.

On Tuesday, they lubricated its latching end effector.

The robotic arm was installed at the orbiting outpost 16 years ago, and recently stopped gripping effectively.

Astronauts need it in working order so it can capture incoming cargo ships that ferry supplies to the crew living in orbit. The next US shipment arrives in November.

NASA May Extend BEAM's Time on the International Space Station
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NASA is exploring options with Bigelow Aerospace to extend the life of the privately owned Bigelow Expandable Activity Module. Known as BEAM, the module is attached to the International Space Station and continues to perform well during its technology demonstration mission. NASA has issued a synopsis of an intended contract action to partner with Bigelow Aerospace to extend the life of the ... read more

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